Whoopers are all white with black wingtips, visible only in flight. They fly with neck and long legs extended. A pelican's short legs do not extend beyond the tail in flight, a feature sometimes difficult to see. Pelicans often migrate in flocks of 20 or more. Snow geese are also white with black wingtips, but they are smaller than whooping cranes, and their short legs do not extend beyond their tail during flights.
Snow geese usually travel in large flocks.
Whooping cranes migrate during the day, usually in groups of three to seven birds, unlike larger flocks of gray sandhill cranes that also travel through South Dakota. The cranes are most likely to be seen in central South Dakota on shallow wetlands associated with cropland or pasture. Reliable sightings help state and federal agencies protect these birds from potentially hazardous situations. Hunter Safety Program Specialist Bill Shattuck said with the deadline for archery elk applications fast approaching, people who need to complete the course should plan to do so soon. The deadline for archery elk license applications is May 19.