When do geese leave Nevada?

Canada Geese never fully leave Nevada: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 14% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Nevada?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 38% of Nevada checklists.

Which geese are in Nevada?

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 Nevada

When Do Geese Arrive in Nevada?

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 Nevada. Canada Geese are in Nevada all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in the second week of March (38% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (the second week of June) they are still on about 14% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 1-7early November

PeakMar 8-14the second week of March

Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May

FewestJun 8-14the second week of June

Best: the second week of March. Here all year; numbers build from early November and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 38% of Nevada checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Geese in Nevada, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Mar 8-14	May 8-14	38%
Snow Goose	Oct 15-21	Nov 1-7	Dec 1-7	Mar 8-14	8.1%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Sep 1-7	Sep 1-7	Jan 8-14	Apr 8-14	2.7%
Cackling Goose	Nov 8-14	Nov 8-14	Jan 8-14	Mar 8-14	2.3%
Ross's Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Dec 15-21	Mar 15-21	2.3%

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 Nevada 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 Nevada

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Carson CityBest mid April · 143 checklists that week, 6,992 in all67%
Washoe CountyBest mid March · 1072 checklists that week, 53,497 in all54%
Douglas CountyBest the second week of April · 126 checklists that week, 7,476 in all52%
Churchill CountyBest the second week of April · 88 checklists that week, 3,104 in all46%
Lyon CountyBest late February · 44 checklists that week, 3,229 in all45%
Eureka CountyBest mid April · 22 checklists that week, 530 in all40%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Nevada?: Canada Geese are in Nevada all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in the second week of March (38% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (the second week of June) they are still on about 14% of checklists.
When do geese leave Nevada?: Canada Geese never fully leave Nevada: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 14% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Nevada?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 38% of Nevada checklists.
Which geese are in Nevada?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.