When do geese leave Alabama?

The Canada Goose does not leave Alabama: it is reported all year, from 8.0% of checklists in late June to 19% in the second week of March.

When is the best time to see geese in Alabama?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 19% of Alabama checklists.

Which geese are in Alabama?

Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.

4 goose species in Alabama

When Do Geese Arrive in Alabama?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and Greater White-fronted Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Alabama. The Canada Goose is in Alabama all year. It turns up on about 19% of checklists at its peak (the second week of March) and on 8.0% in its quietest week (late June).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekMar 8-14the second week of March

Quietest weekJun 22-30late June

Best: the second week of March. Here all year. Peak: on about 19% of Alabama checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Decpeak season

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

Geese in Alabama, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	all year	–	Mar 8-14	–	19%
Snow Goose	Nov 8-14	Nov 15-21	Dec 8-14	Feb 1-7	3.6%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Nov 8-14	Nov 8-14	Jan 15-21	Feb 1-7	3.4%
Ross's Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Dec 8-14	Feb 1-7	1.4%

Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's Goose

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 Alabama 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 Alabama

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Perry CountyBest mid August · 24 checklists that week, 1,066 in all66%
Etowah CountyBest the second week of April · 32 checklists that week, 1,492 in all56%
Marshall CountyBest late January · 405 checklists that week, 5,647 in all50%
Russell CountyBest late December · 30 checklists that week, 846 in all48%
Lawrence CountyBest the second week of March · 29 checklists that week, 1,969 in all47%
Hale CountyBest the second week of September · 42 checklists that week, 2,977 in all47%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Alabama?: The Canada Goose is in Alabama all year. It turns up on about 19% of checklists at its peak (the second week of March) and on 8.0% in its quietest week (late June).
When do geese leave Alabama?: The Canada Goose does not leave Alabama: it is reported all year, from 8.0% of checklists in late June to 19% in the second week of March.
When is the best time to see geese in Alabama?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 19% of Alabama checklists.
Which geese are in Alabama?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.