WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Kansas?

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

Sandhill Cranes mostly pass through Kansas: they arrive in early October, peak in early November (4.4% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular cranes in Kansas.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October
Common byOct 1-7early October
PeakNov 1-7early November
Most gone byDec 1-7early December

Best: early November. First arrivals early October; most are gone by early December. Peak: on about 4.4% of Kansas checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maynot usually seen
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Seprare
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decrare

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

Cranes in Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneOct 1-7Oct 1-7Nov 1-7Dec 1-74.4%
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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Stafford CountyBest the second week of November · 245 checklists that week, 6,839 in all48%
  2. Hodgeman CountyBest late October · 13 checklists that week, 670 in all29%
  3. Barton CountyBest late February · 23 checklists that week, 4,391 in all24%
  4. Meade CountyBest late October · 17 checklists that week, 892 in all23%
  5. Russell CountyBest early November · 126 checklists that week, 5,277 in all22%
  6. Logan CountyBest early November · 15 checklists that week, 1,379 in all21%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Kansas?
Sandhill Cranes mostly pass through Kansas: they arrive in early October, peak in early November (4.4% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular cranes in Kansas.
When do cranes leave Kansas?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Kansas by early December, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Kansas?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early November, on about 4.4% of Kansas checklists.