whooping crane

American  

noun

1. a white North American crane, Grus americana, having a loud, whooping call: an endangered species.

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whooping crane British  

noun

1. a rare North American crane, Grus americana, having a white plumage with black wings and a red naked face

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Etymology

Origin of whooping crane

An Americanism dating back to 1720–30

Example Sentences

We both gave respectful curtsies, though I couldn’t help but add a few bows at the same time, which might have given me the appearance of a whooping crane in courting season.

From Literature

They have undergone or are currently involved in successful reintroductions to the wild: Karner blue butterfly, red wolf, black-footed ferret, whooping crane, golden-lion tamarin.

From Literature

Other species, from elephant seals to whooping cranes, have made remarkable comebacks, even from dire straits.

From Seattle Times

After spending the summer tagging and tracking whooping cranes across south-central Wisconsin, Barajas has become even more aware of how minority perspectives are rarely considered in the conservation world.

From Seattle Times

Problem: Baby whooping cranes born in captivity needed to learn to migrate a 1,200-mile route from Wisconsin to Florida.

From Washington Post