When do geese leave Illinois?

The Canada Goose does not leave Illinois: it is reported all year, from 17% of checklists in late June to 59% in the second week of March.

When is the best time to see geese in Illinois?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 59% of Illinois checklists.

Which geese are in Illinois?

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

4 goose species in Illinois

When Do Geese Arrive in Illinois?

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 Illinois. The Canada Goose is in Illinois all year. It turns up on about 59% of checklists at its peak (the second week of March) and on 17% in its quietest week (late June).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekMar 8-14the second week of March

Quietest weekJun 22-30late June

Best: the second week of March. Here all year. Peak: on about 59% of Illinois checklists.

Jancommon
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Deccommon

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

Geese in Illinois, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	all year	–	Mar 8-14	–	59%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Oct 15-21	Oct 22-31	Feb 22-28	Mar 15-21	5.7%
Snow Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 8-14	Feb 15-21	Mar 15-21	4.0%
Cackling Goose	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Dec 22-31	Mar 1-7	2.1%

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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Putnam CountyBest mid October · 66 checklists that week, 3,333 in all84%
Vermilion CountyBest early March · 113 checklists that week, 5,300 in all80%
Kendall CountyBest early March · 604 checklists that week, 21,004 in all77%
Grundy CountyBest the second week of March · 84 checklists that week, 5,050 in all75%
Wabash CountyBest the second week of November · 10 checklists that week, 602 in all75%
Henderson CountyBest mid March · 16 checklists that week, 800 in all73%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Illinois?: The Canada Goose is in Illinois all year. It turns up on about 59% of checklists at its peak (the second week of March) and on 17% in its quietest week (late June).
When do geese leave Illinois?: The Canada Goose does not leave Illinois: it is reported all year, from 17% of checklists in late June to 59% in the second week of March.
When is the best time to see geese in Illinois?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 59% of Illinois checklists.
Which geese are in Illinois?: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, and Cackling Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.