WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Indiana?

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

Sandhill Cranes are in Indiana all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from the second week of February, peak in early March (13% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of March. In the quietest week (early July) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists. They are the only regular cranes in Indiana.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 8-14the second week of February
PeakMar 1-7early March
Fall back byMar 8-14the second week of March
FewestJul 1-7early July

Best: early March. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of February and fall back by the second week of March. Peak: on about 13% of Indiana checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Cranes in Indiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneFeb 8-14Feb 8-14Mar 1-7Mar 8-1413%
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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Pulaski CountyBest early December · 85 checklists that week, 1,160 in all94%
  2. Jasper CountyBest late January · 144 checklists that week, 1,586 in all72%
  3. Greene CountyBest early February · 343 checklists that week, 17,518 in all60%
  4. Jennings CountyBest late January · 19 checklists that week, 1,395 in all57%
  5. Steuben CountyBest the second week of March · 54 checklists that week, 4,396 in all55%
  6. Kosciusko CountyBest early March · 146 checklists that week, 8,359 in all55%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Indiana?
Sandhill Cranes are in Indiana all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from the second week of February, peak in early March (13% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of March. In the quietest week (early July) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists. They are the only regular cranes in Indiana.
When do cranes leave Indiana?
Sandhill Cranes never fully leave Indiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of March, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.5% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see cranes in Indiana?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early March, on about 13% of Indiana checklists.