WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Alaska?

Adult Sandhill crane
Photo: Cathy Perkins, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Sandhill Cranes reach Alaska in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (18% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular cranes in Alaska.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 18% of Alaska checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Cranes in Alaska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 1-7Sep 15-2118%
0%5%10%15%20%Sandhill CraneJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Sandhill Crane
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alaska that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Alaska

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Kusilvak Census AreaBest the second week of May · 14 checklists that week, 573 in all59%
  2. Fairbanks North Star BoroughBest mid August · 506 checklists that week, 23,771 in all31%
  3. Northwest Arctic BoroughBest the second week of May · 29 checklists that week, 1,386 in all30%
  4. Kenai Peninsula BoroughBest early May · 2442 checklists that week, 49,772 in all29%
  5. Southeast Fairbanks Census AreaBest the second week of May · 66 checklists that week, 3,009 in all27%
  6. Anchorage MunicipalityBest early May · 2484 checklists that week, 65,703 in all27%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Alaska?
Sandhill Cranes reach Alaska in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in early May (18% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular cranes in Alaska.
When do cranes leave Alaska?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Alaska by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see cranes in Alaska?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early May, on about 18% of Alaska checklists.