Whooping Crane vs Black-necked Crane
Grus americana compared with Grus nigricollis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whooping Crane | Black-necked Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Grus americana | Grus nigricollis |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Gruidae | Gruidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 121.2 cm (47.7 in) | 115.8 cm (45.6 in) |
| Weight | 6789.4 g (239.49 oz) | 6000.0 g (211.64 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Endangered
Whooping Crane
Near Threatened
Black-necked Crane
About These Birds
Whooping Crane
Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is the tallest North American bird at 150 cm, wingspan 220 cm. All-white except black wingtips and bare red crown and face. Critically Endangered; wild population recovered from just 15 birds in 1941 to ~500 today through intensive conservation. Breeds in Wood Buffalo NP, Canada; winters at Aransas NWR, Texas.
Black-necked Crane
Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) is a large 115–120 cm crane endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. White body with black neck, head, and wing tips; bare red crown. The only crane breeding on a plateau; nests above 4,000 m. Winters at lower elevations in Bhutan, India, and Yunnan. Vulnerable; population ~10,000 birds.