A giant species of vulture and the largest land bird of North America, the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) has an average body length of about 50 inches and a wingspan of about 10 feet. These carrion eaters are almost entirely black, with white bands on the undersides of their wings. One of the most endangered bird species in North America, fewer than 25 condors once were in existence. Captive breeding and subsequent release into the wild has successfully brought these birds back from the brink of extinction; however, as of 2010, there are still only 332 California condors in existence, about half of them in captivity. Native to the Southwestern United States, these birds can be found in California, Arizona and northern Mexico.
Named for its characteristic "whooping" call, the whooping crane (Grus americana) is one of two crane species in North America. It stands about 5 feet tall, with a wingspan of 7 to 8 feet. Adult specimens feature white plumage, with some red coloring on the crown and black coloring on the forehead and face; juveniles are typically brownish colored. Occurring in parts of the United States and Canada, the whooping crane is listed as endangered by both the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and COSEWIC.
At the first half of the 20th century, the whooping crane population dropped to a mere 14 birds, all within a single Canadian population. However, conservation efforts have since led to a slow but steady increase in populations, and there are now around 400 birds in existence, in both Canada and the United States.
The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), naturally occurring in the forests of southeastern United States, is, by far, one of the most critically endangered bird species in North America. The estimate of the birds in existence ranges from none to 50. While technically listed as endangered, recent findings--or lack thereof--may mean that the ivory-billed woodpecker may very well be extinct. This beautiful, tree-dwelling bird features a mix of white and black coloration, with pointed Mohawk-shaped plumage on the head; males have a red neck and head. Ivory-billed woodpeckers average about 50 centimeters in length, with a wingspan of about 80 centimeters. As of 2010, the last recorded sightings of these critically endangered birds occurred during a massive organized search that took place in 2005.
