When do geese leave Arizona?

Canada Geese never fully leave Arizona: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of April, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.5% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Arizona?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of January, on about 7.3% of Arizona checklists.

Which geese are in Arizona?

Canada Goose and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.

2 goose species in Arizona

When Do Geese Arrive in Arizona?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese and Snow Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Arizona. Canada Geese are in Arizona all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of January (7.3% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of April. In the quietest week (the second week of August) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildSep 22-30late September

PeakJan 8-14the second week of January

Fall back byApr 8-14the second week of April

FewestAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: the second week of January. Here all year; numbers build from late September and fall back by the second week of April. Peak: on about 7.3% of Arizona checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Geese in Arizona, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Sep 22-30	Sep 22-30	Jan 8-14	Apr 8-14	7.3%
Snow Goose	Oct 15-21	Oct 22-31	Nov 22-30	Mar 8-14	3.5%

Canada 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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Navajo CountyBest mid February · 330 checklists that week, 18,838 in all27%
La Paz CountyBest the second week of December · 181 checklists that week, 7,279 in all22%
Maricopa CountyBest the second week of January · 6829 checklists that week, 269,896 in all21%
Apache CountyBest the second week of March · 186 checklists that week, 12,931 in all18%
Coconino CountyBest early April · 1999 checklists that week, 90,870 in all18%
Gila CountyBest mid January · 187 checklists that week, 14,834 in all17%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Arizona?: Canada Geese are in Arizona all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late September, peak in the second week of January (7.3% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of April. In the quietest week (the second week of August) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists.
When do geese leave Arizona?: Canada Geese never fully leave Arizona: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of April, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.5% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Arizona?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of January, on about 7.3% of Arizona checklists.
Which geese are in Arizona?: Canada Goose and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.