WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in New York?

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

Sandhill Cranes arrive in New York in early March, peak in early September (1.1% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular cranes in New York.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 1-7early March
PeakSep 1-7early September
Most gone byDec 1-7early December

Best: early September. First arrivals early March; most are gone by early December. Peak: on about 1.1% of New York checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Cranes in New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneMar 1-7Mar 1-7Sep 1-7Dec 1-71.1%
0%0.5%1%1.5%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 New York 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 New York

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Seneca CountyBest mid August · 812 checklists that week, 47,387 in all28%
  2. Genesee CountyBest early June · 574 checklists that week, 17,726 in all13%
  3. Wayne CountyBest mid March · 948 checklists that week, 37,738 in all10%
  4. Orleans CountyBest early September · 244 checklists that week, 16,706 in all6.3%
  5. Chenango CountyBest the second week of August · 123 checklists that week, 10,785 in all5.0%
  6. Schuyler CountyBest late March · 334 checklists that week, 12,381 in all4.0%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in New York?
Sandhill Cranes arrive in New York in early March, peak in early September (1.1% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular cranes in New York.
When do cranes leave New York?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left New York by early December, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in New York?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early September, on about 1.1% of New York checklists.