WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in North Dakota?

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

Sandhill Cranes arrive in North Dakota in mid March, peak in the second week of April (5.0% of checklists), and most are gone by early May. They are the only regular cranes in North Dakota.

When to look

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

Best: the second week of April. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 5.0% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augrare
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Cranes in North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneMar 15-21Mar 15-21Apr 8-14May 1-75.0%
0%2%4%6%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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Bottineau CountyBest mid September · 62 checklists that week, 1,949 in all45%
  2. Divide CountyBest mid October · 11 checklists that week, 573 in all36%
  3. Sheridan CountyBest late September · 18 checklists that week, 620 in all31%
  4. Emmons CountyBest the second week of November · 16 checklists that week, 687 in all30%
  5. McHenry CountyBest late October · 25 checklists that week, 1,118 in all21%
  6. Burke CountyBest mid October · 18 checklists that week, 941 in all20%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in North Dakota?
Sandhill Cranes arrive in North Dakota in mid March, peak in the second week of April (5.0% of checklists), and most are gone by early May. They are the only regular cranes in North Dakota.
When do cranes leave North Dakota?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left North Dakota by early May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in North Dakota?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 5.0% of North Dakota checklists.