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

It’s not too late to save the whooping crane, the red-cockaded woodpecker, the piping plover or any of the other 86 birds on the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Thus workers must wear a special costume to fool the chick into thinking it is associating with an adult whooping crane.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

It’s a gray, retro-style Crosley standing on long black legs, like a whooping crane, looking out over our kitchen in Atlanta.

From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2021

The Endangered Species Act’s success in the recovery of the bald eagle, osprey, whooping crane and California condor has been applauded by the country at large.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2021

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 "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh