WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Nebraska?

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

Sandhill Cranes mostly pass through Nebraska: the first show up in mid February, they are common by early March, peak in mid March (20% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular cranes in Nebraska.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 15-21mid February
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakMar 15-21mid March
Most gone byApr 1-7early April

Best: mid March. First arrivals mid February; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 20% of Nebraska checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maynot usually seen
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octrare
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Cranes in Nebraska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneFeb 15-21Mar 1-7Mar 15-21Apr 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Buffalo CountyBest late March · 1206 checklists that week, 10,155 in all72%
  2. Kearney CountyBest the second week of March · 81 checklists that week, 1,140 in all70%
  3. Hall CountyBest mid March · 500 checklists that week, 6,387 in all67%
  4. Garden CountyBest mid March · 65 checklists that week, 1,392 in all67%
  5. Hamilton CountyBest late March · 51 checklists that week, 630 in all46%
  6. Merrick CountyBest mid March · 16 checklists that week, 552 in all44%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Nebraska?
Sandhill Cranes mostly pass through Nebraska: the first show up in mid February, they are common by early March, peak in mid March (20% of checklists), and most are gone by early April. They are the only regular cranes in Nebraska.
When do cranes leave Nebraska?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Nebraska by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.
When is the best time to see cranes in Nebraska?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in mid March, on about 20% of Nebraska checklists.