When do geese leave California?

The Canada Goose does not leave California: it is reported all year, from 12% of checklists in mid June to 24% in mid March.

When is the best time to see geese in California?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 24% of California checklists.

Which geese are in California?

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

6 goose species in California

When Do Geese Arrive in California?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, and Snow Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in California. The Canada Goose is in California all year. It turns up on about 24% of checklists at its peak (mid March) and on 12% in its quietest week (mid June).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekMar 15-21mid March

Quietest weekJun 15-21mid June

Best: mid March. Here all year. Peak: on about 24% of California checklists.

Janpeak season
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 California, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	all year	–	Mar 15-21	–	24%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Sep 15-21	Sep 22-30	Jan 15-21	Apr 15-21	3.6%
Snow Goose	Oct 22-31	Nov 1-7	Jan 15-21	Mar 15-21	3.2%
Cackling Goose	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	Apr 1-7	3.0%
Brant	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Jan 8-14	Apr 8-14	1.9%
Ross's Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Jan 8-14	Mar 1-7	1.0%

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

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Plumas CountyBest late March · 663 checklists that week, 24,629 in all61%
Calaveras CountyBest early March · 97 checklists that week, 6,843 in all55%
Modoc CountyBest late January · 51 checklists that week, 6,138 in all55%
Amador CountyBest the second week of March · 92 checklists that week, 4,733 in all53%
El Dorado CountyBest the second week of March · 326 checklists that week, 25,075 in all51%
Sacramento CountyBest late March · 3748 checklists that week, 121,767 in all49%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in California?: The Canada Goose is in California all year. It turns up on about 24% of checklists at its peak (mid March) and on 12% in its quietest week (mid June).
When do geese leave California?: The Canada Goose does not leave California: it is reported all year, from 12% of checklists in mid June to 24% in mid March.
When is the best time to see geese in California?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 24% of California checklists.
Which geese are in California?: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, Brant, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.