WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Mississippi?

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

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Mississippi: they arrive in late May, peak in the second week of December (1.7% of checklists), and most are gone by late April. They are the only regular cranes in Mississippi.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 22-31late May
Common byMay 22-31late May
PeakDec 8-14the second week of December
Most gone byApr 22-30late April

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals late May; most are gone by late April. Peak: on about 1.7% of Mississippi checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Cranes in Mississippi, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneMay 22-31May 22-31Dec 8-14Apr 22-301.7%
0%0.5%1%1.5%2%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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Panola CountyBest the second week of January · 34 checklists that week, 1,311 in all16%
  2. Noxubee CountyBest early January · 155 checklists that week, 5,841 in all9.8%
  3. Tunica CountyBest early February · 32 checklists that week, 887 in all6.0%
  4. Jackson CountyBest early July · 381 checklists that week, 36,440 in all5.9%
  5. Holmes CountyBest mid February · 12 checklists that week, 242 in all5.3%
  6. Bolivar CountyBest mid December · 25 checklists that week, 384 in all3.8%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Mississippi?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Mississippi: they arrive in late May, peak in the second week of December (1.7% of checklists), and most are gone by late April. They are the only regular cranes in Mississippi.
When do cranes leave Mississippi?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Mississippi by late April, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Mississippi?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 1.7% of Mississippi checklists.