When do geese leave Pennsylvania?

Canada Geese never fully leave Pennsylvania: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of 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 Pennsylvania?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 45% of Pennsylvania checklists.

Which geese are in Pennsylvania?

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

2 goose species in Pennsylvania

When Do Geese Arrive in Pennsylvania?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese are in Pennsylvania all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early February, peak in the second week of March (45% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 11% of checklists. They are by far the most reported gooses in Pennsylvania.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 1-7early February

PeakMar 8-14the second week of March

Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May

FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: the second week of March. Here all year; numbers build from early February and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 45% of Pennsylvania checklists.

Jancommon
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 Pennsylvania, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Feb 1-7	Feb 1-7	Mar 8-14	May 8-14	45%
Snow Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 22-30	Mar 1-7	Mar 22-31	4.9%

Canada 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Crawford CountyBest late March · 1080 checklists that week, 23,552 in all71%
Montour CountyBest the second week of March · 161 checklists that week, 6,082 in all68%
Bucks CountyBest early December · 1455 checklists that week, 95,030 in all63%
Northampton CountyBest the second week of March · 1021 checklists that week, 45,480 in all60%
Lancaster CountyBest early March · 2427 checklists that week, 97,892 in all60%
Lebanon CountyBest early March · 915 checklists that week, 33,727 in all58%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Pennsylvania?: Canada Geese are in Pennsylvania all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early February, peak in the second week of March (45% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 11% of checklists. They are by far the most reported gooses in Pennsylvania.
When do geese leave Pennsylvania?: Canada Geese never fully leave Pennsylvania: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of 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 Pennsylvania?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 45% of Pennsylvania checklists.
Which geese are in Pennsylvania?: Canada Goose and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.