When do geese leave Louisiana?

Canada Geese never fully leave Louisiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early May, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.8% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Louisiana?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 9.4% of Louisiana checklists.

Which geese are in Louisiana?

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

4 goose species in Louisiana

When Do Geese Arrive in Louisiana?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and Greater White-fronted Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Louisiana. Canada Geese are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early January, peak in the second week of March (9.4% of checklists), and fall back by early May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 2.8% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJan 1-7early January

PeakMar 8-14the second week of March

Fall back byMay 1-7early May

FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: the second week of March. Here all year; numbers build from early January and fall back by early May. Peak: on about 9.4% of Louisiana checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Geese in Louisiana, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Jan 1-7	Jan 1-7	Mar 8-14	May 1-7	9.4%
Snow Goose	Oct 22-31	Nov 15-21	Dec 8-14	Feb 8-14	6.9%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Dec 8-14	Feb 15-21	4.7%
Ross's Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Dec 8-14	Feb 1-7	1.9%

Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Richland ParishBest late November · 13 checklists that week, 835 in all47%
Sabine ParishBest early April · 12 checklists that week, 541 in all45%
Franklin ParishBest the second week of January · 12 checklists that week, 416 in all44%
Washington ParishBest early March · 34 checklists that week, 975 in all39%
Livingston ParishBest the second week of February · 93 checklists that week, 4,788 in all24%
Ascension ParishBest late July · 36 checklists that week, 3,169 in all23%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Louisiana?: Canada Geese are in Louisiana all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early January, peak in the second week of March (9.4% of checklists), and fall back by early May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 2.8% of checklists.
When do geese leave Louisiana?: Canada Geese never fully leave Louisiana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early May, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.8% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Louisiana?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 9.4% of Louisiana checklists.
Which geese are in Louisiana?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.