Cranes in Tennessee in February

Yes, February is one of the best months to see cranes in Tennessee. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 118 of the 549 sightings logged across the year (21.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Stilobezzia viridis photographed in TennesseeEastern Phantom Crane Fly photographed in TennesseeProtoplasa fitchii photographed in Tennessee
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for cranes in Tennessee

21.5%

of yearly sightings

118

records in February

#3

busiest month of 12

549

verified records a year

January 37.5%, February 21.5%, March 2.4%. Busiest month is January at 37.5%.

Best months: January, December, February

549 verified observations of cranes in Tennessee, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When cranes are recorded in Tennessee

Peak month

January

206 records (37.5% of the year)

Quietest month

September

1 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak20637.5%
Februarypeak11821.5%
March132.4%
April71.3%
May30.5%
June20.4%
July20.4%
August20.4%
September10.2%
October30.5%
November5610.2%
Decemberpeak13624.8%

Cranes you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Sandhill Crane503
Whooping Crane38
Hooded Crane4

In Tennessee, February carries 21.5% of the year's cranes sightings, about 13.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from January (37.5%) into February, and it heads toward March (2.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so February is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The cranes most often recorded in Tennessee are Sandhill Crane, Whooping Crane and Hooded Crane. Those counts are annual totals rather than a February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February itself.

Which cranes you are most likely to see

  • Sandhill Crane503 records
  • Whooping Crane38 records
  • Hooded Crane4 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your crane trip in Tennessee

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see cranes in Tennessee in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 118 of the 549 verified cranes sightings logged in Tennessee across the year, which is 21.5% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see cranes in Tennessee?+

February is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, December and February.

What month is best for cranes in Tennessee?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, December and February, based on 549 verified observations.

Which cranes are you most likely to see in Tennessee?+

The most-recorded species in Tennessee are Sandhill Crane, Whooping Crane and Hooded Crane, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.