WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Utah?

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

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Utah: the first arrive in the second week of February, they are common by mid February, peak in mid March (11% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular cranes in Utah.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 8-14the second week of February
Common byFeb 15-21mid February
PeakMar 15-21mid March
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid March. First arrivals the second week of February; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 11% of Utah checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decrare

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

Cranes in Utah, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneFeb 8-14Feb 15-21Mar 15-21Oct 1-711%
0%5%10%15%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 Utah 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 Utah

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Rich CountyBest mid April · 11 checklists that week, 1,563 in all43%
  2. Uintah CountyBest early October · 126 checklists that week, 9,143 in all41%
  3. Summit CountyBest late April · 364 checklists that week, 13,829 in all37%
  4. Wasatch CountyBest early April · 206 checklists that week, 7,780 in all34%
  5. Cache CountyBest late March · 632 checklists that week, 21,769 in all33%
  6. Sanpete CountyBest the second week of March · 101 checklists that week, 6,190 in all31%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Utah?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Utah: the first arrive in the second week of February, they are common by mid February, peak in mid March (11% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular cranes in Utah.
When do cranes leave Utah?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Utah by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.
When is the best time to see cranes in Utah?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in mid March, on about 11% of Utah checklists.