WhenToBird

4 goose species in Maryland

When Do Geese Arrive in Maryland?

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

Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and Cackling Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Maryland. The Canada Goose is in Maryland all year. It turns up on about 45% of checklists at its peak (early March) and on 14% in its quietest week (early July).

When to look

PresentAll year
Peak weekMar 1-7early March
Quietest weekJul 1-7early July

Best: early March. Here all year. Peak: on about 45% of Maryland checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  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 Maryland, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Canada Gooseall year–Mar 1-7–45%
Snow GooseDec 1-7Dec 1-7Jan 1-7Mar 8-142.5%
Cackling GooseNov 15-21Nov 15-21Jan 1-7Feb 22-281.8%
BrantNov 1-7Nov 1-7Nov 15-21Mar 15-211.6%
0%20%40%60%Canada GooseSnow GooseCackling GooseBrantJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Canada Goose
  • Snow Goose
  • Cackling Goose
  • Brant
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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Talbot CountyBest mid December · 650 checklists that week, 31,140 in all75%
  2. Queen Anne's CountyBest the second week of December · 448 checklists that week, 26,875 in all75%
  3. Kent CountyBest the second week of December · 272 checklists that week, 13,396 in all70%
  4. Dorchester CountyBest early February · 748 checklists that week, 26,161 in all66%
  5. Harford CountyBest early March · 894 checklists that week, 39,311 in all60%
  6. Prince George's CountyBest mid December · 1449 checklists that week, 87,907 in all56%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Maryland?
The Canada Goose is in Maryland all year. It turns up on about 45% of checklists at its peak (early March) and on 14% in its quietest week (early July).
When do geese leave Maryland?
The Canada Goose does not leave Maryland: it is reported all year, from 14% of checklists in early July to 45% in early March.
When is the best time to see geese in Maryland?
The Canada Goose is reported most often in early March, on about 45% of Maryland checklists.
Which geese are in Maryland?
Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, and Brant are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.