Watching Cranes in Belgium: How to Spot the Autumn Migration

You often hear them before you see them: a loud, trumpeting call high in the sky. Look up and you will see long streams or V-formations of large grey birds with their necks outstretched. Cranes! Every autumn tens of thousands of them pass over our country on their way south. With a bit of luck and the right wind, you can see them too. Pull on your Swift Dive Sweatshirt, with a diving falcon, and read how, where and when to follow the crane migration at its best.

When do cranes migrate over Belgium?

The autumn migration begins as early as August and September in Scandinavia, where the birds gather. They then cross the Baltic Sea to northern Germany. Above the Low Countries the peak falls in the last week of October and the first half of November. A sudden cold snap can trigger new waves later on, sometimes as late as December.

In spring they return, usually in late February and early March. They often fly faster and in larger groups then.

From Scandinavia to Spain

The cranes that fly over Belgium follow the so-called western migration route. They breed mainly in Sweden, Finland, northern Germany and the Baltic states. Along the way they rest at large gathering places, such as around Diepholz in northern Germany. They then fly over eastern Belgium to Lac du Der, east of Paris, and on to their wintering grounds in Spain and North Africa.

How many cranes fly over?

This varies greatly from year to year and from day to day. A few figures:

• During the large simultaneous bird count on Sunday 19 October 2025, volunteers at 96 count posts counted almost a million migrating birds over Belgium. Among them were 7,467 cranes, most of them over Wallonia.
• On 6 and 7 November 2025 a large wave of tens of thousands of cranes followed, mainly over the east of the country.
• The record comes from spring: on 4 March 2018 an estimated 70,000 cranes flew over Belgium. On the Signal de Botrange alone, 36,582 were counted that day.

Bird flu: a hard year

Autumn 2025 was a disaster for the cranes. From October, avian influenza (H5N1) struck hard, first in Germany and then along the entire migration route. According to Wageningen University, more than 40,000 dead cranes were collected in Germany, France and Spain. It is estimated that around ten per cent of the population did not survive the bird flu. The good news: according to the researchers, a form of herd immunity seems to have developed in the meantime. If you find a dead or sick bird, do not touch it.

How do you recognise a crane?

• Size: a crane is 95 to 120 cm tall, so bigger than a stork. Its wingspan is 180 to 220 cm.
• Colour: grey, with a black-and-white head and neck and a small red patch on the crown.
• Flight: cranes fly with their necks and legs outstretched. A grey heron pulls its neck in during flight, which is the easiest way to tell them apart.
• Formation: often in a V-formation, but also in long streams or loose groups.
• Sound: a loud, trumpeting "kroo kroo" that carries from far away. Often you hear them before you see them.

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Where can you see cranes in Belgium?

Because the migration route runs mainly over the east, your best chance is in the east of the country.

1. East Cantons and High Fens: in autumn the best place is east of the line Eupen–Sankt Vith. Choose an open spot with a clear view from the north-west to the east, such as around the Signal de Botrange. Note: after the fire of August 2026, part of the High Fens is still closed off. Check botrange.be in advance to see which areas are open.
2. Limburg: with an easterly wind the birds are pushed west, so they also fly over Limburg and the rest of Flanders.
3. Breuvanne in the Gaume: this nature reserve near Tintigny receives groups of cranes that stop to rest almost every year. Natagora wants to expand the area further.
4. The Semois valley is also mentioned as a resting place.

If you really want to see thousands of cranes together, you need to cross the border. At Lac du Der in France, tens of thousands of birds often gather at once in autumn. In 2019 more than 268,000 were even counted.

Which weather produces the biggest migration days?

• North-easterly wind, clear skies and the first night frost are the starting signal. On such a day a large part of the birds can leave in one go.
• Easterly wind pushes them west, so also over Flanders. With westerly wind they fly more over Germany and you see fewer.
• Mild temperatures and south-westerly wind actually keep them on the ground.
• Cranes usually leave their roost early in the morning. Over Belgium you often see them throughout the day.

Tips for following the migration

• Crane radar: Wageningen University and Sensing Clues developed a crane radar that shows where groups are flying and where you have the best chance of seeing them.
• Report what you see on waarnemingen.be, with the exact location, the time to the minute, the direction of flight and the number. That way your sightings help improve the radar.
• Binoculars: a pair of binoculars makes all the difference. On a count, every volunteer has at least one.
• Dress warmly: standing still on a hill in November is cold. A hat and a warm layer, such as the Snow Lynx Hoodie with a lynx in deep snow, are not a luxury.

Want to know more about birdwatching? Read our beginner's guide to birdwatching.

Cranes are breeding in Belgium again

For a long time the crane was only a passing visitor here. Then, in 2021, a wild pair bred in Belgium for the first time in more than 200 years, in the Zwarte Beek valley in Limburg. Their two chicks were named Gru and Dru.

Since then numbers have been rising steadily. In 2025 three pairs stayed for the first time, and one pair raised a chick for the fifth year in a row. In 2026 there are again three pairs, although they were disturbed by wild boar in spring. Since March 2026 the valley has been recognised as the Natuurpark Zwarte Beek nature park, with the crane as its symbol.

In the Netherlands, cranes have been breeding since 2001. There are now around 80 pairs there.

Want to see them? Stay on the paths, keep your dog on a lead and come especially in the morning or evening. The exact nest site remains secret so the birds can rest.

Frequently asked questions

When can you see cranes in Belgium?

In autumn mainly from late October to mid-November, and in spring in late February and early March. The busiest days depend on the weather: north-easterly wind and a first night frost often produce big migration days.

Where can you see the most cranes?

In the east of the country, east of the line Eupen–Sankt Vith and in the High Fens. With an easterly wind they also fly over Limburg and the rest of Flanders.

Do cranes breed in Belgium?

Yes, since 2021 in the Zwarte Beek valley in Limburg. In 2025 and 2026 there were three pairs.

For those keeping an eye on the sky

A morning on the lookout, the calling of cranes above your head: every bird lover gets happy about that. Discover all our bird designs in the Birds collection, such as the Night Watch Hoodie with an owl that sees everything, or the Dark Raven T-shirt with a raven on the lookout. Or read our article on owls in Belgium. Shipping is free across the EU from €45 (otherwise €4.99).