Whooping Cranes, Grus americana, parent and chick at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf Coast, Texas. Tallest North American bird. Endangered. Birds winter at Aransas NWR then migrate to Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada for summer. In January 2012 there were 283 birds at Aransas. The chick is banded, with two bands on the right leg, and a radio tracking device on the left leg.