WhenToBird

3 goose species in Utah

When Do Geese Arrive in Utah?

Adult Canada Goose
Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese are in Utah all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early January, peak in late March (36% 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 Utah.

When to look

Numbers buildJan 1-7early January
PeakMar 22-31late March
Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May
FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from early January and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 36% of Utah checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Geese in Utah, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Canada GooseJan 1-7Jan 1-7Mar 22-31May 8-1436%
Snow GooseNov 1-7Nov 1-7Mar 1-7Apr 8-141.9%
Cackling GooseNov 15-21Nov 15-21Jan 8-14Mar 8-141.9%
0%10%20%30%40%Canada GooseSnow GooseCackling GooseJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Canada Goose
  • Snow 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 Utah 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 Utah

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Rich CountyBest late March · 10 checklists that week, 1,563 in all61%
  2. Wasatch CountyBest mid March · 134 checklists that week, 7,780 in all58%
  3. Summit CountyBest late April · 364 checklists that week, 13,829 in all57%
  4. Cache CountyBest mid March · 416 checklists that week, 21,769 in all57%
  5. Piute CountyBest mid April · 24 checklists that week, 1,035 in all55%
  6. Juab CountyBest the second week of March · 74 checklists that week, 2,572 in all53%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Utah?
Canada Geese are in Utah all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early January, peak in late March (36% 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 Utah.
When do geese leave Utah?
Canada Geese never fully leave Utah: 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 Utah?
The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 36% of Utah checklists.
Which geese are in Utah?
Canada Goose, Snow Goose, and Cackling Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.