WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Idaho?

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

Sandhill Cranes reach Idaho in late February, are common by early March, peak in early April (6.7% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular cranes in Idaho.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 22-28late February
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakApr 1-7early April
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: early April. First arrivals late February; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 6.7% of Idaho checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Cranes in Idaho, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneFeb 22-28Mar 1-7Apr 1-7Oct 1-76.7%
0%2%4%6%8%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 Idaho 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 Idaho

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jefferson CountyBest late March · 203 checklists that week, 5,319 in all45%
  2. Camas CountyBest late April · 110 checklists that week, 2,112 in all43%
  3. Teton CountyBest mid April · 174 checklists that week, 6,406 in all42%
  4. Bear Lake CountyBest mid April · 24 checklists that week, 1,581 in all33%
  5. Franklin CountyBest the second week of April · 16 checklists that week, 651 in all33%
  6. Caribou CountyBest mid April · 23 checklists that week, 608 in all31%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Idaho?
Sandhill Cranes reach Idaho in late February, are common by early March, peak in early April (6.7% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular cranes in Idaho.
When do cranes leave Idaho?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Idaho by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late October.
When is the best time to see cranes in Idaho?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early April, on about 6.7% of Idaho checklists.