When do geese leave Iowa?

Canada Geese never fully leave Iowa: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 16% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Iowa?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 62% of Iowa checklists.

Which geese are in Iowa?

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

5 goose species in Iowa

When Do Geese Arrive in Iowa?

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 Iowa. Canada Geese are in Iowa all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in the second week of March (62% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 16% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 15-21mid February

PeakMar 8-14the second week of March

Fall back byMay 15-21mid May

FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: the second week of March. Here all year; numbers build from mid February and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 62% of Iowa checklists.

Jancommon
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Geese in Iowa, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Feb 15-21	Feb 15-21	Mar 8-14	May 15-21	62%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Jan 22-31	Feb 15-21	Mar 1-7	Mar 22-31	18%
Snow Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 15-21	Mar 8-14	Apr 15-21	11%
Cackling Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 8-14	Dec 8-14	Mar 8-14	6.5%
Ross's Goose	Feb 8-14	Feb 8-14	Mar 8-14	Apr 8-14	3.3%

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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Mitchell CountyBest the second week of March · 13 checklists that week, 660 in all91%
Shelby CountyBest late March · 11 checklists that week, 354 in all90%
Clarke CountyBest late March · 16 checklists that week, 459 in all90%
Tama CountyBest mid March · 31 checklists that week, 973 in all89%
Worth CountyBest the second week of March · 13 checklists that week, 333 in all88%
Louisa CountyBest early March · 79 checklists that week, 1,639 in all87%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Iowa?: Canada Geese are in Iowa all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in the second week of March (62% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 16% of checklists.
When do geese leave Iowa?: Canada Geese never fully leave Iowa: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 16% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Iowa?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 62% of Iowa checklists.
Which geese are in Iowa?: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.