WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Oregon?

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

Sandhill Cranes arrive in Oregon in early August, peak in early April (2.8% of checklists), and most are gone by mid June. They are the only regular cranes in Oregon.

When to look

First arrivalsAug 1-7early August
Common byAug 1-7early August
PeakApr 1-7early April
Most gone byJun 15-21mid June

Best: early April. First arrivals early August; most are gone by mid June. Peak: on about 2.8% of Oregon checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Cranes in Oregon, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneAug 1-7Aug 1-7Apr 1-7Jun 15-212.8%
0%1%2%3%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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Columbia CountyBest the second week of December · 443 checklists that week, 27,750 in all44%
  2. Harney CountyBest late March · 634 checklists that week, 40,943 in all30%
  3. Lake CountyBest the second week of March · 86 checklists that week, 13,301 in all23%
  4. Union CountyBest early April · 831 checklists that week, 33,301 in all21%
  5. Klamath CountyBest the second week of March · 317 checklists that week, 26,875 in all18%
  6. Grant CountyBest early April · 95 checklists that week, 6,818 in all14%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Oregon?
Sandhill Cranes arrive in Oregon in early August, peak in early April (2.8% of checklists), and most are gone by mid June. They are the only regular cranes in Oregon.
When do cranes leave Oregon?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Oregon by mid June, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Oregon?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early April, on about 2.8% of Oregon checklists.