WhenToBird

Sandhill Crane · Antigone canadensis

When Do Cranes Arrive in Wyoming?

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

Sandhill Cranes reach Wyoming in early March, are common by the second week of March, peak in mid April (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular cranes in Wyoming.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 8-14the second week of March
PeakApr 15-21mid April
Most gone byNov 8-14the second week of November

Best: mid April. First arrivals early March; most are gone by the second week of November. Peak: on about 15% of Wyoming checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  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 Wyoming, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Sandhill CraneMar 1-7Mar 8-14Apr 15-21Nov 8-1415%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming

Best counties for Sandhill Crane

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Sublette CountyBest late April · 230 checklists that week, 6,738 in all37%
  2. Uinta CountyBest mid April · 48 checklists that week, 1,881 in all34%
  3. Big Horn CountyBest the second week of November · 15 checklists that week, 2,023 in all33%
  4. Sheridan CountyBest the second week of April · 99 checklists that week, 6,459 in all32%
  5. Teton CountyBest mid April · 294 checklists that week, 34,686 in all32%
  6. Washakie CountyBest late October · 264 checklists that week, 6,033 in all30%

Common questions

When do cranes arrive in Wyoming?
Sandhill Cranes reach Wyoming in early March, are common by the second week of March, peak in mid April (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular cranes in Wyoming.
When do cranes leave Wyoming?
Most Sandhill Cranes have left Wyoming 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 Wyoming?
The Sandhill Crane is reported most often in mid April, on about 15% of Wyoming checklists.