Cranes – North America

Cranes are among the most threatened of bird species, with the whooping and sandhill cranes endemic to North America. The whooping crane is the tallest bird on the continent, and one of the most endangered species in the world. The bird, known for its snow-white plumage and distinct call, was reduced to only about 15 birds in the 1940s due to agricultural expansion and overhunting in North American prairie marshes. Through captive breeding and wetland management, its numbers have risen to about 600 today. The more common of the North American crane species, sandhill cranes are noted for their gray feather, crimson-caps, and unique, trumpeting tone. These elegant cranes nest in wetlands habitats, while wintering in southwestern United States and north Mexico. Sandhill crane populations have remained stable, with an increase in numbers since the mid-twentieth century. Despite their large numbers, the subspecies Mississippi Sandhill Crane is considered endangered due to the habitat conservation from wet pine savanna to pine plantations. Wetland conservation and protection of migratory paths is critical to ensure that Sandhill cranes continue to thrive.