When do geese leave Alaska?

Canada Geese never fully leave Alaska: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.6% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Alaska?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in late April, on about 27% of Alaska checklists.

Which geese are in Alaska?

Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Snow Goose, and Brant are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.

5 goose species in Alaska

When Do Geese Arrive in Alaska?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, and Cackling Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Alaska. Canada Geese are in Alaska all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of April, peak in late April (27% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late December) they are still on about 4.6% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakApr 22-30late April

Fall back byMay 15-21mid May

FewestDec 22-31late December

Best: late April. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of April and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 27% of Alaska checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepuncommon
Octuncommon
Novuncommon
Decuncommon

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

Geese in Alaska, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Apr 8-14	Apr 8-14	Apr 22-30	May 15-21	27%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Apr 8-14	Apr 8-14	Apr 22-30	Jul 1-7	14%
Cackling Goose	Apr 8-14	Apr 8-14	May 1-7	Jul 1-7	8.5%
Snow Goose	Apr 8-14	Apr 8-14	May 1-7	Jun 22-30	5.1%
Brant	Apr 8-14	Apr 8-14	Jun 8-14	Jul 8-14	4.0%

Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Snow 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 Alaska 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 Alaska

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Chugach Census AreaBest late April · 264 checklists that week, 7,540 in all55%
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census AreaBest mid December · 52 checklists that week, 2,822 in all49%
Anchorage MunicipalityBest late April · 2742 checklists that week, 65,703 in all46%
Hoonah-Angoon Census AreaBest late November · 69 checklists that week, 8,159 in all43%
Petersburg BoroughBest the second week of April · 100 checklists that week, 6,063 in all40%
Fairbanks North Star BoroughBest mid April · 582 checklists that week, 23,771 in all40%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Alaska?: Canada Geese are in Alaska all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of April, peak in late April (27% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late December) they are still on about 4.6% of checklists.
When do geese leave Alaska?: Canada Geese never fully leave Alaska: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.6% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Alaska?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in late April, on about 27% of Alaska checklists.
Which geese are in Alaska?: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Snow Goose, and Brant are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.