WhenToBird

3 goose species in New York

When Do Geese Arrive in New York?

Adult Canada Goose
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 York. Canada Geese are in New York all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in mid March (52% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 16% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 22-28late February
PeakMar 15-21mid March
Fall back byMay 15-21mid May
FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: mid March. Here all year; numbers build from late February and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 52% of New York checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Geese in New York, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Canada GooseFeb 22-28Feb 22-28Mar 15-21May 15-2152%
BrantOct 8-14Oct 15-21Jan 8-14May 15-216.2%
Snow GooseNov 8-14Nov 8-14Mar 8-14Apr 1-74.2%
0%20%40%60%Canada GooseBrantSnow GooseJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Canada Goose
  • Brant
  • 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 New York 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 York

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Genesee CountyBest mid March · 441 checklists that week, 17,726 in all84%
  2. Seneca CountyBest the second week of October · 884 checklists that week, 47,387 in all77%
  3. Orleans CountyBest the second week of March · 382 checklists that week, 16,706 in all75%
  4. Wayne CountyBest the second week of March · 897 checklists that week, 37,738 in all67%
  5. Sullivan CountyBest the second week of March · 551 checklists that week, 28,620 in all66%
  6. Bronx CountyBest late January · 612 checklists that week, 24,489 in all66%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in New York?
Canada Geese are in New York all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in mid March (52% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 16% of checklists.
When do geese leave New York?
Canada Geese never fully leave New York: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 16% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in New York?
The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 52% of New York checklists.
Which geese are in New York?
Canada Goose, Brant, and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.