WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Montana?

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

Sandhill Cranes reach Montana in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of April (17% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular cranes in Montana.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 15-21mid March
PeakApr 8-14the second week of April
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of April. First arrivals early March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 17% of Montana checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Cranes in Montana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneMar 1-7Mar 15-21Apr 8-14Oct 1-717%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Madison CountyBest the second week of April · 143 checklists that week, 7,008 in all47%
  2. Meagher CountyBest the second week of April · 10 checklists that week, 1,201 in all46%
  3. Deer Lodge CountyBest the second week of April · 204 checklists that week, 8,732 in all35%
  4. Park CountyBest mid April · 163 checklists that week, 7,672 in all35%
  5. Musselshell CountyBest early April · 14 checklists that week, 961 in all33%
  6. Teton CountyBest mid April · 40 checklists that week, 2,579 in all31%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Montana?
Sandhill Cranes reach Montana in early March, are common by mid March, peak in the second week of April (17% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular cranes in Montana.
When do cranes leave Montana?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Montana by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.
When is the best time to see cranes in Montana?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 17% of Montana checklists.