When do geese leave New Jersey?

Canada Geese never fully leave New Jersey: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 20% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in New Jersey?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in early March, on about 52% of New Jersey checklists.

Which geese are in New Jersey?

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

4 goose species in New Jersey

When Do Geese Arrive in New Jersey?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Brants, and Snow Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in New Jersey. Canada Geese are in New Jersey all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid October, peak in early March (52% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 20% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildOct 15-21mid October

PeakMar 1-7early March

Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May

FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: early March. Here all year; numbers build from mid October and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 52% of New Jersey checklists.

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

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

Geese in New Jersey, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Mar 1-7	May 8-14	52%
Brant	Oct 8-14	Oct 15-21	Jan 8-14	May 8-14	8.8%
Snow Goose	Nov 8-14	Nov 15-21	Dec 15-21	Mar 8-14	4.0%
Cackling Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Jan 8-14	Feb 22-28	1.5%

Canada Goose
Brant
Snow 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Hunterdon CountyBest early December · 1068 checklists that week, 57,610 in all66%
Hudson CountyBest early March · 367 checklists that week, 21,191 in all64%
Bergen CountyBest mid March · 1364 checklists that week, 73,457 in all64%
Warren CountyBest mid December · 388 checklists that week, 20,077 in all64%
Burlington CountyBest early March · 1010 checklists that week, 52,358 in all63%
Mercer CountyBest the second week of December · 958 checklists that week, 56,614 in all62%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in New Jersey?: Canada Geese are in New Jersey all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from mid October, peak in early March (52% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 20% of checklists.
When do geese leave New Jersey?: Canada Geese never fully leave New Jersey: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 20% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in New Jersey?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in early March, on about 52% of New Jersey checklists.
Which geese are in New Jersey?: Canada Goose, Brant, Snow Goose, and Cackling Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.