WhenToBird

2 goose species in Hawaii

When Do Geese Arrive in Hawaii?

Adult Cackling Goose
Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cackling Geese and Snow Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Hawaii. Cackling Geese are winter birds in Hawaii: the first arrive in the second week of July, they are common by the second week of August, peak in the second week of January (1.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 8-14the second week of July
Common byAug 8-14the second week of August
PeakJan 8-14the second week of January
Most gone byMay 1-7early May

Best: the second week of January. First arrivals the second week of July; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 1.6% of Hawaii checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Geese in Hawaii, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cackling GooseJul 8-14Aug 8-14Jan 8-14May 1-71.6%
Snow GooseSep 22-30Sep 22-30Jan 8-14Apr 8-141.1%
0%0.5%1%1.5%2%Cackling GooseSnow GooseJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii

Best counties for Cackling Goose

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Hawaii CountyBest early November · 1345 checklists that week, 75,146 in all2.6%
  2. Honolulu CountyBest early February · 1209 checklists that week, 47,705 in all2.5%
  3. Kauai CountyBest late March · 1032 checklists that week, 32,543 in all0.6%
  4. Maui CountyBest the second week of October · 403 checklists that week, 22,729 in all0.2%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Hawaii?
Cackling Geese are winter birds in Hawaii: the first arrive in the second week of July, they are common by the second week of August, peak in the second week of January (1.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early May.
When do geese leave Hawaii?
Most Cackling Geese have left Hawaii by early May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late June.
When is the best time to see geese in Hawaii?
The Cackling Goose is reported most often in the second week of January, on about 1.6% of Hawaii checklists.
Which geese are in Hawaii?
Cackling Goose and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Cackling Goose is the most common.