At nearly 1.5-meters (five feet) tall, the whooping crane (Grus americana) stands as North America's tallest bird. These long-necked, long-legged birds are easily identified by their striking white feathers and red crown. They travel over long distances from Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas and play an important role in wetlands by eating insects and small animals. Whooping cranes are named for their loud, whooping calls that can be heard up to 3.2 kilometers (two miles) away.

In the past, unrestricted hunting reduced the whooping crane population. Their habitat disappeared as humans took over areas where they nest and travel in winter. By the 1940s, whooping crane numbers fell to fewer than 20 birds, and they were in danger of disappearing forever. In the late 1960s, they were listed as endangered, but a breeding program began to increase their numbers. By 2010, there were around 500 whooping cranes, with most living in the wild. While climate change and habitat loss are still threats to these special birds, they are slowly returning to the wild where they belong.