When do geese leave Massachusetts?

Canada Geese never fully leave Massachusetts: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 15% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Massachusetts?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 43% of Massachusetts checklists.

Which geese are in Massachusetts?

Canada Goose and Brant are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.

2 goose species in Massachusetts

When Do Geese Arrive in Massachusetts?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese are in Massachusetts all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in mid March (43% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 15% of checklists. They are by far the most reported gooses in Massachusetts.

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 43% of Massachusetts checklists.

Jancommon
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Decpeak season

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

Geese in Massachusetts, 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	43%
Brant	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Feb 1-7	May 1-7	4.3%

Canada 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Hampden CountyBest the second week of March · 763 checklists that week, 35,410 in all57%
Berkshire CountyBest mid March · 2024 checklists that week, 92,890 in all53%
Middlesex CountyBest mid March · 7000 checklists that week, 307,511 in all51%
Suffolk CountyBest early December · 1870 checklists that week, 112,443 in all47%
Plymouth CountyBest the second week of March · 1737 checklists that week, 89,282 in all44%
Worcester CountyBest late March · 4093 checklists that week, 128,594 in all44%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Massachusetts?: Canada Geese are in Massachusetts all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in mid March (43% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 15% of checklists. They are by far the most reported gooses in Massachusetts.
When do geese leave Massachusetts?: Canada Geese never fully leave Massachusetts: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 15% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Massachusetts?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 43% of Massachusetts checklists.
Which geese are in Massachusetts?: Canada Goose and Brant are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.