When do geese leave Arkansas?

Canada Geese never fully leave Arkansas: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 10% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Arkansas?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 28% of Arkansas checklists.

Which geese are in Arkansas?

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

5 goose species in Arkansas

When Do Geese Arrive in Arkansas?

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 Arkansas. Canada Geese are in Arkansas all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in mid March (28% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (the second week of June) they are still on about 10% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 15-21mid February

PeakMar 15-21mid March

Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May

FewestJun 8-14the second week of June

Best: mid March. Here all year; numbers build from mid February and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 28% of Arkansas checklists.

Jancommon
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Geese in Arkansas, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Feb 15-21	Feb 15-21	Mar 15-21	May 8-14	28%
Snow Goose	Oct 15-21	Nov 1-7	Dec 22-31	Mar 1-7	6.3%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Oct 8-14	Oct 15-21	Nov 1-7	Mar 1-7	4.4%
Ross's Goose	Nov 8-14	Nov 8-14	Dec 22-31	Mar 1-7	1.6%
Cackling Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Jan 8-14	Feb 8-14	1.0%

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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Van Buren CountyBest the second week of March · 10 checklists that week, 895 in all72%
Lee CountyBest the second week of March · 14 checklists that week, 450 in all64%
Little River CountyBest late April · 23 checklists that week, 510 in all55%
Hot Spring CountyBest late April · 53 checklists that week, 726 in all53%
Crawford CountyBest early March · 57 checklists that week, 4,965 in all52%
Sebastian CountyBest mid April · 112 checklists that week, 4,415 in all47%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Arkansas?: Canada Geese are in Arkansas all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in mid March (28% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (the second week of June) they are still on about 10% of checklists.
When do geese leave Arkansas?: Canada Geese never fully leave Arkansas: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 10% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Arkansas?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 28% of Arkansas checklists.
Which geese are in Arkansas?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross's Goose, and Cackling Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.