WhenToBird

2 crane species in Texas

When Do Cranes Arrive in Texas?

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

Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes are the cranes you are most likely to see in Texas. Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by late October, peak in mid November (4.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of March.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byOct 22-31late October
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Most gone byMar 8-14the second week of March

Best: mid November. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by the second week of March. Peak: on about 4.1% of Texas checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  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. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Cranes in Texas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneOct 15-21Oct 22-31Nov 15-21Mar 8-144.1%
Whooping CraneNov 15-21Nov 15-21Feb 22-28Mar 15-211.1%
0%2%4%6%Sandhill CraneWhooping CraneJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Sandhill Crane
  • Whooping 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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lynn CountyBest late November · 25 checklists that week, 1,052 in all71%
  2. Bailey CountyBest the second week of November · 20 checklists that week, 631 in all64%
  3. Crosby CountyBest early December · 44 checklists that week, 2,466 in all57%
  4. Martin CountyBest mid November · 20 checklists that week, 637 in all57%
  5. Castro CountyBest late December · 12 checklists that week, 371 in all52%
  6. Terry CountyBest late February · 12 checklists that week, 390 in all50%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Texas?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by late October, peak in mid November (4.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of March.
When do cranes leave Texas?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Texas by the second week of March, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Texas?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in mid November, on about 4.1% of Texas checklists.
Which cranes are in Texas?
Sandhill Crane and Whooping Crane are reported regularly; the Sandhill Crane is the most common.