Aransas NWR-Wood Buffalo Flock
 

- Scientific name: Grus americana.

- Whooping cranes are the tallest of all birds in North America, standing between 4' to 5' tall.

- Color: Adult is pure white with black wingtips. Juvenile is rust and white.

- In the wild, a whooping crane's lifespan can be up to 30 years.

- Whoopers mate for life and are extremely territorial after mating.

- The female whooping crane lays 2 eggs and both adults incubate the eggs for about 1 month.

The average flight speed of a whooping crane during migration is approximately 45 m.p.h.

- Chicks can swim as soon as they hatch and they can fly within 80 to 90 days.

- While in Texas, the whoopers eat shellfish, snakes, acorns, small fish and wild fruit.

- Nesting grounds: Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Canada.

- Winter Home: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas coast.

- Migration: 2500 miles, 15 to 40 days.