WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Minnesota?

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

Sandhill Cranes arrive in Minnesota in early March, peak in early April (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular cranes in Minnesota.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakApr 1-7early April
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: early April. First arrivals early March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 11% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decrare

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

Cranes in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneMar 1-7Mar 1-7Apr 1-7Oct 15-2111%
0%5%10%15%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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Isanti CountyBest early April · 88 checklists that week, 2,785 in all46%
  2. Steele CountyBest late March · 112 checklists that week, 4,784 in all45%
  3. Wilkin CountyBest early November · 37 checklists that week, 1,101 in all37%
  4. Sherburne CountyBest mid April · 263 checklists that week, 9,922 in all37%
  5. Todd CountyBest late March · 83 checklists that week, 4,802 in all35%
  6. Mille Lacs CountyBest late March · 35 checklists that week, 1,955 in all32%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Minnesota?
Sandhill Cranes arrive in Minnesota in early March, peak in early April (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular cranes in Minnesota.
When do cranes leave Minnesota?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Minnesota by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid November.
When is the best time to see cranes in Minnesota?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early April, on about 11% of Minnesota checklists.