When do geese leave North Dakota?

Canada Geese never fully leave North Dakota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early June, but some are still reported in every week, about 6.9% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in North Dakota?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 55% of North Dakota checklists.

Which geese are in North Dakota?

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 North Dakota

When Do Geese Arrive in North Dakota?

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 North Dakota. Canada Geese are in North Dakota all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in early April (55% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 6.9% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 8-14the second week of March

PeakApr 1-7early April

Fall back byJun 1-7early June

FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: early April. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of March and fall back by early June. Peak: on about 55% of North Dakota checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Geese in North Dakota, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Mar 8-14	Mar 8-14	Apr 1-7	Jun 1-7	55%
Snow Goose	Sep 22-30	Sep 22-30	Nov 1-7	Dec 15-21	11%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Feb 22-28	Feb 22-28	Mar 22-31	May 15-21	11%
Cackling Goose	Feb 22-28	Feb 22-28	Mar 15-21	Apr 8-14	11%
Ross's Goose	Mar 1-7	Mar 1-7	Mar 22-31	Apr 22-30	3.4%

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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Pierce CountyBest early April · 15 checklists that week, 403 in all90%
Renville CountyBest mid October · 10 checklists that week, 415 in all88%
Sheridan CountyBest the second week of April · 15 checklists that week, 620 in all87%
Sargent CountyBest the second week of March · 13 checklists that week, 894 in all85%
Mercer CountyBest the second week of February · 20 checklists that week, 2,518 in all84%
McLean CountyBest early March · 30 checklists that week, 1,933 in all80%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in North Dakota?: Canada Geese are in North Dakota all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in early April (55% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 6.9% of checklists.
When do geese leave North Dakota?: Canada Geese never fully leave North Dakota: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early June, but some are still reported in every week, about 6.9% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in North Dakota?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 55% of North Dakota checklists.
Which geese are in North Dakota?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.