WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Georgia?

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

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Georgia: they arrive in mid November, peak in mid February (2.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early March. They are the only regular cranes in Georgia.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 15-21mid November
Common byNov 15-21mid November
PeakFeb 15-21mid February
Most gone byMar 1-7early March

Best: mid February. First arrivals mid November; most are gone by early March. Peak: on about 2.6% of Georgia checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maynot usually seen
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octrare
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decpeak season

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

Cranes in Georgia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneNov 15-21Nov 15-21Feb 15-21Mar 1-72.6%
0%1%2%3%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 Georgia 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 Georgia

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Macon CountyBest early January · 53 checklists that week, 1,883 in all58%
  2. Lanier CountyBest late January · 12 checklists that week, 226 in all44%
  3. Charlton CountyBest the second week of December · 41 checklists that week, 2,627 in all40%
  4. Gordon CountyBest mid February · 80 checklists that week, 2,772 in all34%
  5. Crisp CountyBest mid January · 23 checklists that week, 524 in all33%
  6. Ware CountyBest the second week of October · 12 checklists that week, 621 in all28%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Georgia?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Georgia: they arrive in mid November, peak in mid February (2.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early March. They are the only regular cranes in Georgia.
When do cranes leave Georgia?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Georgia by early March, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Georgia?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in mid February, on about 2.6% of Georgia checklists.