WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Michigan?

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

Sandhill Cranes are in Michigan all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in late March (20% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 2.0% of checklists. They are the only regular cranes in Michigan.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 22-28late February
PeakMar 22-31late March
Fall back byJun 1-7early June
FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from late February and fall back by early June. Peak: on about 20% of Michigan checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Cranes in Michigan, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneFeb 22-28Feb 22-28Mar 22-31Jun 1-720%
0%10%20%30%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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Gratiot CountyBest late March · 237 checklists that week, 5,892 in all64%
  2. Clinton CountyBest late March · 380 checklists that week, 10,597 in all49%
  3. Missaukee CountyBest late March · 110 checklists that week, 2,151 in all48%
  4. Livingston CountyBest early October · 499 checklists that week, 31,033 in all47%
  5. Jackson CountyBest mid October · 491 checklists that week, 34,259 in all46%
  6. Barry CountyBest the second week of March · 663 checklists that week, 29,465 in all46%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Michigan?
Sandhill Cranes are in Michigan all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in late March (20% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 2.0% of checklists. They are the only regular cranes in Michigan.
When do cranes leave Michigan?
Sandhill Cranes never fully leave Michigan: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early June, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.0% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see cranes in Michigan?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in late March, on about 20% of Michigan checklists.