Western whooping crane (SciiFii)

The western whooping crane (Grus americana californianus) is a subspecies of whooping crane (Grus americana) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the wetlands, humid open woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands across the western United States and Mexico to help boost biodiversity. The adult western whooping crane is white with a red crown and a long, dark, pointed bill. However, immature western whooping cranes are cinnamon brown. While in flight, their long necks are kept straight and their long dark legs trail behind. Adult western whooping cranes' black wing tips are visible during flight. Western whooping cranes are some of the tallest cranes native to North America. The species can reportedly stand anywhere from 1.24 to 1.6 meters (4 feet 1 inches to 5 feet 3 inches) in height. Wingspan, at least typically, is from 2 to 2.3 meters (6 feet 7 inches to 7 feet 7 inches). Widely reported averages put males at a mean mass of 7.3 kilograms (16 lb), while females weigh 6.2 kilograms (14 lb) on average. However, the typical weights of adults seem to be between 4.5 and 8.5 kilograms (9.9 and 18.7 lb). The body length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, averages about 132 centimeters (4 feet 4 inches). Their calls are loud and can carry several kilometers. They express "guard calls", apparently to warn their partner about any potential danger. The crane pair will jointly call rhythmically ("unison call") after waking in the early morning, after courtship and when defending their territory. These birds forage while walking in shallow water or in fields, sometimes probing with their bills. They are omnivorous but tend to be more inclined to animal material than most other cranes. In their California and Mexico wintering grounds, this species feeds on various crustaceans, mollusks, fish (such as eel), small reptiles and aquatic plants. Food sources of breeding birds in more northern summer grounds include frogs, small rodents, small birds, fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, clams, snails, aquatic tubers, berries, and sometimes carrion. Waste grain, including wheat, barley, and corn, is an important food for migrating western whooping cranes, and unlike the eastern whooping crane subspecies, the western whooping cranes swallow gizzard stones and digest grains more efficiently than eastern whooping cranes. Western whooping crane are monogamous, forming pairs at the age of 2 or 3 years and they mate for life. Three to five large, creamy olive buff eggs with brown markings are laid in foot-high nest made of mud and vegetation built in an inaccessible area. Incubation ranges from 32 to 34 days and is carried out by both parents. The western whooping crane's lifespan is between 22 to 26 years in the wild, but can live nearly twice as long in captivity. The conservation status of the western whooping crane is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the western whooping crane's wide range and, unlike the eastern whooping cranes, its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii