WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Colorado?

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

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Colorado: they arrive in late September, peak in the second week of October (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular cranes in Colorado.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 22-30late September
Common bySep 22-30late September
PeakOct 8-14the second week of October
Most gone byDec 1-7early December

Best: the second week of October. First arrivals late September; most are gone by early December. Peak: on about 3.3% of Colorado checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Julrare
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Cranes in Colorado, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneSep 22-30Sep 22-30Oct 8-14Dec 1-73.3%
0%2%4%6%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 Colorado 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 Colorado

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Rio Grande CountyBest early March · 224 checklists that week, 4,655 in all75%
  2. Costilla CountyBest late February · 14 checklists that week, 1,323 in all61%
  3. Delta CountyBest early March · 108 checklists that week, 6,509 in all46%
  4. Routt CountyBest mid April · 284 checklists that week, 10,504 in all39%
  5. Saguache CountyBest late March · 70 checklists that week, 3,220 in all34%
  6. Moffat CountyBest the second week of September · 121 checklists that week, 5,700 in all32%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Colorado?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Colorado: they arrive in late September, peak in the second week of October (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular cranes in Colorado.
When do cranes leave Colorado?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Colorado by early December, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Colorado?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of October, on about 3.3% of Colorado checklists.