When do cranes leave California?

Most Sandhill Cranes have left California by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate.

When is the best time to see cranes in California?

The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 1.5% of California checklists.

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in California?

Photo: Cathy Perkins, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in California: they arrive in mid September, peak in the second week of November (1.5% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March. They are the only regular cranes in California.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 15-21mid September

Common bySep 15-21mid September

PeakNov 8-14the second week of November

Most gone byMar 15-21mid March

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals mid September; most are gone by mid March. Peak: on about 1.5% of California checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Apruncommon
Mayuncommon
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Cranes in California, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Sandhill Crane	Sep 15-21	Sep 15-21	Nov 8-14	Mar 15-21	1.5%

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 California 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 California

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak

Modoc CountyBest early March · 29 checklists that week, 6,138 in all36%
Plumas CountyBest mid March · 504 checklists that week, 24,629 in all32%
Merced CountyBest mid November · 278 checklists that week, 13,095 in all31%
Colusa CountyBest late October · 183 checklists that week, 7,653 in all27%
San Joaquin CountyBest early December · 684 checklists that week, 33,237 in all25%
Lassen CountyBest early March · 118 checklists that week, 8,378 in all23%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in California?: Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in California: they arrive in mid September, peak in the second week of November (1.5% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March. They are the only regular cranes in California.
When do cranes leave California?: Most Sandhill Cranes have left California by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in California?: The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 1.5% of California checklists.