WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Wisconsin?

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

Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Wisconsin: the first arrive in the second week of February, they are common by late February, peak in mid March (31% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular cranes in Wisconsin.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 8-14the second week of February
Common byFeb 22-28late February
PeakMar 15-21mid March
Most gone byNov 8-14the second week of November

Best: mid March. First arrivals the second week of February; most are gone by the second week of November. Peak: on about 31% of Wisconsin checklists.

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

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

Cranes in Wisconsin, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneFeb 8-14Feb 22-28Mar 15-21Nov 8-1431%
0%10%20%30%40%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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Burnett CountyBest mid October · 166 checklists that week, 11,034 in all64%
  2. Green CountyBest the second week of March · 89 checklists that week, 4,387 in all62%
  3. Jefferson CountyBest the second week of March · 720 checklists that week, 31,378 in all58%
  4. Adams CountyBest early April · 157 checklists that week, 5,946 in all55%
  5. Columbia CountyBest mid March · 638 checklists that week, 15,761 in all55%
  6. Dodge CountyBest early October · 524 checklists that week, 34,980 in all54%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Wisconsin?
Sandhill Cranes are winter birds in Wisconsin: the first arrive in the second week of February, they are common by late February, peak in mid March (31% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular cranes in Wisconsin.
When do cranes leave Wisconsin?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Wisconsin by the second week of November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early December.
When is the best time to see cranes in Wisconsin?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in mid March, on about 31% of Wisconsin checklists.