When do cranes leave Iowa?

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

When is the best time to see cranes in Iowa?

The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 5.7% of Iowa checklists.

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Iowa?

Photo: Cathy Perkins, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Iowa: they arrive in late February, peak in the second week of March (5.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid November. They are the only regular cranes in Iowa.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 22-28late February

Common byFeb 22-28late February

PeakMar 8-14the second week of March

Most gone byNov 15-21mid November

Best: the second week of March. First arrivals late February; most are gone by mid November. Peak: on about 5.7% of Iowa checklists.

Janrare
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepuncommon
Octcommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Cranes in Iowa, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Sandhill Crane	Feb 22-28	Feb 22-28	Mar 8-14	Nov 15-21	5.7%

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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak

Louisa CountyBest the second week of March · 73 checklists that week, 1,639 in all60%
Tama CountyBest the second week of March · 43 checklists that week, 973 in all49%
Allamakee CountyBest mid March · 35 checklists that week, 2,607 in all46%
Bremer CountyBest the second week of April · 89 checklists that week, 3,421 in all39%
Mitchell CountyBest mid April · 26 checklists that week, 660 in all33%
Jackson CountyBest mid April · 59 checklists that week, 1,765 in all31%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Iowa?: Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Iowa: they arrive in late February, peak in the second week of March (5.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid November. They are the only regular cranes in Iowa.
When do cranes leave Iowa?: Most Sandhill Cranes have left Iowa by mid November, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Iowa?: The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 5.7% of Iowa checklists.