When do geese leave New Mexico?

Canada Geese never fully leave New Mexico: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.0% of checklists at the low.

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

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of January, on about 20% of New Mexico checklists.

Which geese are in New Mexico?

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

4 goose species in New Mexico

When Do Geese Arrive in New Mexico?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and Cackling Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in New Mexico. Canada Geese are in New Mexico all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late October, peak in the second week of January (20% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildOct 22-31late October

PeakJan 8-14the second week of January

Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May

FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: the second week of January. Here all year; numbers build from late October and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 20% of New Mexico checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Jununcommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Geese in New Mexico, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Oct 22-31	Oct 22-31	Jan 8-14	May 8-14	20%
Snow Goose	Oct 15-21	Oct 22-31	Nov 15-21	Mar 8-14	6.7%
Cackling Goose	Oct 22-31	Nov 1-7	Jan 15-21	Feb 15-21	5.2%
Ross's Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Nov 15-21	Mar 8-14	1.8%

Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Ross's 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 Mexico 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 Mexico

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

San Juan CountyBest early March · 91 checklists that week, 5,542 in all54%
Colfax CountyBest the second week of October · 277 checklists that week, 8,053 in all49%
Curry CountyBest mid December · 107 checklists that week, 2,926 in all48%
De Baca CountyBest late January · 31 checklists that week, 2,203 in all48%
Rio Arriba CountyBest early March · 108 checklists that week, 8,526 in all41%
Harding CountyBest late November · 12 checklists that week, 932 in all39%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in New Mexico?: Canada Geese are in New Mexico all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from late October, peak in the second week of January (20% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists.
When do geese leave New Mexico?: Canada Geese never fully leave New Mexico: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.0% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in New Mexico?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of January, on about 20% of New Mexico checklists.
Which geese are in New Mexico?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.