When do geese leave Oregon?

Canada Geese never fully leave Oregon: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 11% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Oregon?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 34% of Oregon checklists.

Which geese are in Oregon?

Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.

4 goose species in Oregon

When Do Geese Arrive in Oregon?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, and Greater White-fronted Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Oregon. Canada Geese are in Oregon all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early January, peak in early April (34% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 11% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJan 1-7early January

PeakApr 1-7early April

Fall back byMay 15-21mid May

FewestJun 15-21mid June

Best: early April. Here all year; numbers build from early January and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 34% of Oregon checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Geese in Oregon, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Jan 1-7	Jan 1-7	Apr 1-7	May 15-21	34%
Cackling Goose	Sep 15-21	Sep 22-30	Nov 1-7	Apr 15-21	18%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Sep 8-14	Sep 8-14	Oct 1-7	May 8-14	6.0%
Snow Goose	Oct 8-14	Oct 8-14	Nov 8-14	Apr 15-21	2.6%

Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Sherman CountyBest early April · 78 checklists that week, 4,629 in all65%
Crook CountyBest late March · 256 checklists that week, 9,466 in all65%
Morrow CountyBest early December · 19 checklists that week, 3,484 in all60%
Harney CountyBest mid March · 374 checklists that week, 40,943 in all59%
Klamath CountyBest mid March · 464 checklists that week, 26,875 in all57%
Union CountyBest late March · 984 checklists that week, 33,301 in all53%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Oregon?: Canada Geese are in Oregon all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early January, peak in early April (34% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 11% of checklists.
When do geese leave Oregon?: Canada Geese never fully leave Oregon: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 11% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Oregon?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 34% of Oregon checklists.
Which geese are in Oregon?: Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.