WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Washington?

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

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Washington: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in early October (1.9% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April. They are the only regular cranes in Washington.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 8-14the second week of September
Common bySep 8-14the second week of September
PeakOct 1-7early October
Most gone byApr 15-21mid April

Best: early October. First arrivals the second week of September; most are gone by mid April. Peak: on about 1.9% of Washington checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Augrare
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Cranes in Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneSep 8-14Sep 8-14Oct 1-7Apr 15-211.9%
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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Clark CountyBest the second week of October · 1018 checklists that week, 53,250 in all31%
  2. Grant CountyBest late March · 1169 checklists that week, 19,963 in all24%
  3. Cowlitz CountyBest the second week of February · 508 checklists that week, 15,273 in all22%
  4. Franklin CountyBest mid March · 181 checklists that week, 7,970 in all21%
  5. Adams CountyBest mid March · 152 checklists that week, 4,574 in all19%
  6. Benton CountyBest mid March · 378 checklists that week, 23,565 in all14%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Washington?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Washington: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in early October (1.9% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April. They are the only regular cranes in Washington.
When do cranes leave Washington?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Washington by mid April, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see cranes in Washington?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in early October, on about 1.9% of Washington checklists.