When do geese leave South Carolina?

Canada Geese never fully leave South Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.2% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in South Carolina?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 18% of South Carolina checklists.

Canada Goose · Branta canadensis

When Do Geese Arrive in South Carolina?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese are in South Carolina all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late December, peak in late March (18% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 5.2% of checklists. They are the only regular gooses in South Carolina.

When to look

Numbers buildDec 22-31late December

PeakMar 22-31late March

Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May

FewestJun 15-21mid June

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from late December and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 18% of South Carolina 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 South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Dec 22-31	Dec 22-31	Mar 22-31	May 8-14	18%

Canada 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Edgefield CountyBest early February · 17 checklists that week, 1,096 in all56%
Marlboro CountyBest late July · 12 checklists that week, 686 in all48%
Greenwood CountyBest the second week of March · 94 checklists that week, 3,752 in all43%
Clarendon CountyBest the second week of January · 271 checklists that week, 9,189 in all41%
Dillon CountyBest the second week of April · 21 checklists that week, 651 in all40%
Chester CountyBest late March · 33 checklists that week, 921 in all38%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in South Carolina?: Canada Geese are in South Carolina all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late December, peak in late March (18% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 5.2% of checklists. They are the only regular gooses in South Carolina.
When do geese leave South Carolina?: Canada Geese never fully leave South Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 5.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in South Carolina?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 18% of South Carolina checklists.