When do geese leave Minnesota?

Canada Geese never fully leave Minnesota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early June, but some are still reported in every week, about 7.6% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Minnesota?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 57% of Minnesota checklists.

Which geese are in Minnesota?

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

4 goose species in Minnesota

When Do Geese Arrive in Minnesota?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, and Cackling Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Minnesota. Canada Geese are in Minnesota all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in early April (57% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 7.6% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 1-7early March

PeakApr 1-7early April

Fall back byJun 1-7early June

FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: early April. Here all year; numbers build from early March and fall back by early June. Peak: on about 57% of Minnesota checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Geese in Minnesota, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Mar 1-7	Mar 1-7	Apr 1-7	Jun 1-7	57%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Feb 22-28	Mar 1-7	Mar 8-14	Apr 1-7	4.7%
Cackling Goose	Feb 22-28	Feb 22-28	Mar 8-14	Apr 8-14	2.0%
Snow Goose	Feb 8-14	Feb 8-14	Mar 15-21	Jul 1-7	2.0%

Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Snow 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Yellow Medicine CountyBest the second week of March · 21 checklists that week, 1,931 in all88%
Waseca CountyBest mid March · 10 checklists that week, 1,630 in all83%
Mower CountyBest mid March · 68 checklists that week, 2,590 in all82%
Lincoln CountyBest mid March · 17 checklists that week, 1,063 in all82%
Steele CountyBest late March · 112 checklists that week, 4,784 in all80%
Big Stone CountyBest the second week of March · 46 checklists that week, 2,678 in all79%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Minnesota?: Canada Geese are in Minnesota all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in early April (57% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 7.6% of checklists.
When do geese leave Minnesota?: Canada Geese never fully leave Minnesota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early June, but some are still reported in every week, about 7.6% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Minnesota?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 57% of Minnesota checklists.
Which geese are in Minnesota?: Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.