When do geese leave Tennessee?

Canada Geese never fully leave Tennessee: 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 Tennessee?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 33% of Tennessee checklists.

Which geese are in Tennessee?

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

4 goose species in Tennessee

When Do Geese Arrive in Tennessee?

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 Tennessee. Canada Geese are in Tennessee all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late January, peak in mid March (33% 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 22-31late January

PeakMar 15-21mid March

Fall back byMay 15-21mid May

FewestJun 15-21mid June

Best: mid March. Here all year; numbers build from late January and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 33% of Tennessee 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 Tennessee, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Jan 22-31	Jan 22-31	Mar 15-21	May 15-21	33%
Snow Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Dec 1-7	Feb 22-28	3.0%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Jan 22-31	Mar 1-7	1.8%
Ross's Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Dec 8-14	Feb 22-28	1.4%

Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Haywood CountyBest mid July · 40 checklists that week, 1,498 in all71%
Lincoln CountyBest the second week of March · 69 checklists that week, 4,596 in all69%
Hardeman CountyBest late February · 14 checklists that week, 541 in all63%
Roane CountyBest mid March · 115 checklists that week, 6,746 in all61%
Campbell CountyBest early August · 62 checklists that week, 3,619 in all60%
Rhea CountyBest the second week of March · 63 checklists that week, 2,708 in all58%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Tennessee?: Canada Geese are in Tennessee all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late January, peak in mid March (33% 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 Tennessee?: Canada Geese never fully leave Tennessee: 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 Tennessee?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in mid March, on about 33% of Tennessee checklists.
Which geese are in Tennessee?: Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Ross's Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.