When do geese leave Missouri?

Canada Geese never fully leave Missouri: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 11% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Missouri?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 34% of Missouri checklists.

Which geese are in Missouri?

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

5 goose species in Missouri

When Do Geese Arrive in Missouri?

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 Missouri. Canada Geese are in Missouri all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid November, peak in late March (34% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 11% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 15-21mid November

PeakMar 22-31late March

Fall back byMay 15-21mid May

FewestJun 15-21mid June

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from mid November and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 34% of Missouri checklists.

Janpeak season
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 Missouri, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Mar 22-31	May 15-21	34%
Snow Goose	Oct 15-21	Nov 8-14	Feb 22-28	Mar 8-14	7.1%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Oct 1-7	Oct 8-14	Feb 1-7	Mar 8-14	5.3%
Cackling Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Jan 15-21	Feb 15-21	1.8%
Ross's Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Feb 22-28	Mar 15-21	1.4%

Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted 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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Cooper CountyBest the second week of January · 40 checklists that week, 2,587 in all76%
Grundy CountyBest early April · 12 checklists that week, 229 in all76%
Lewis CountyBest late December · 32 checklists that week, 1,047 in all76%
Nodaway CountyBest late February · 13 checklists that week, 834 in all73%
Pike CountyBest early March · 40 checklists that week, 1,685 in all70%
Polk CountyBest early August · 64 checklists that week, 1,429 in all70%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Missouri?: Canada Geese are in Missouri all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid November, peak in late March (34% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 11% of checklists.
When do geese leave Missouri?: Canada Geese never fully leave Missouri: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 11% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Missouri?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 34% of Missouri checklists.
Which geese are in Missouri?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.