WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Tennessee?

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

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Tennessee: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by mid November, peak in the second week of December (4.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late February. They are the only regular cranes in Tennessee.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 8-14the second week of November
Common byNov 15-21mid November
PeakDec 8-14the second week of December
Most gone byFeb 22-28late February

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals the second week of November; most are gone by late February. Peak: on about 4.3% of Tennessee checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprnot usually seen
  5. Maynot usually seen
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Cranes in Tennessee, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneNov 8-14Nov 15-21Dec 8-14Feb 22-284.3%
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Meigs CountyBest mid January · 250 checklists that week, 4,866 in all79%
  2. Rhea CountyBest mid December · 53 checklists that week, 2,708 in all63%
  3. Coffee CountyBest the second week of December · 49 checklists that week, 3,464 in all25%
  4. Jefferson CountyBest the second week of January · 51 checklists that week, 1,973 in all22%
  5. Obion CountyBest mid January · 42 checklists that week, 2,011 in all20%
  6. Warren CountyBest the second week of December · 33 checklists that week, 2,392 in all20%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Tennessee?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Tennessee: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by mid November, peak in the second week of December (4.3% of checklists), and most are gone by late February. They are the only regular cranes in Tennessee.
When do cranes leave Tennessee?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Tennessee by late February, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early March.
When is the best time to see cranes in Tennessee?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 4.3% of Tennessee checklists.