When do geese leave Indiana?

Canada Geese never fully leave Indiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 17% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Indiana?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 52% of Indiana checklists.

Which geese are in Indiana?

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 Indiana

When Do Geese Arrive in Indiana?

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 Indiana. Canada Geese are in Indiana all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in mid March (52% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 17% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 15-21mid February

PeakMar 15-21mid March

Fall back byMay 15-21mid May

FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: mid March. Here all year; numbers build from mid February and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 52% of Indiana 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 Indiana, 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 15-21	52%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Nov 15-21	Dec 1-7	Feb 1-7	Mar 8-14	5.5%
Snow Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 22-30	Jan 22-31	Mar 8-14	4.1%
Cackling Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Jan 15-21	Mar 1-7	1.2%

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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Whitley CountyBest late March · 187 checklists that week, 4,695 in all86%
Howard CountyBest early March · 10 checklists that week, 788 in all83%
Jennings CountyBest early March · 54 checklists that week, 1,395 in all81%
Jay CountyBest late March · 56 checklists that week, 1,334 in all80%
Washington CountyBest late March · 37 checklists that week, 1,463 in all77%
Kosciusko CountyBest mid March · 176 checklists that week, 8,359 in all77%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Indiana?: Canada Geese are in Indiana all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in mid March (52% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 17% of checklists.
When do geese leave Indiana?: Canada Geese never fully leave Indiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 17% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Indiana?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 52% of Indiana checklists.
Which geese are in Indiana?: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, and Cackling Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.