When do geese leave Virginia?

Canada Geese never fully leave Virginia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 13% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see geese in Virginia?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 37% of Virginia checklists.

Which geese are in Virginia?

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

2 goose species in Virginia

When Do Geese Arrive in Virginia?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese are in Virginia all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in early April (37% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 13% of checklists. They are by far the most reported gooses in Virginia.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 1-7early November

PeakApr 1-7early April

Fall back byMay 8-14the second week of May

FewestJun 22-30late June

Best: early April. Here all year; numbers build from early November and fall back by the second week of May. Peak: on about 37% of Virginia checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Geese in Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Nov 1-7	Nov 1-7	Apr 1-7	May 8-14	37%
Snow Goose	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Dec 15-21	Mar 1-7	1.6%

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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Hopewell CountyBest late February · 63 checklists that week, 3,116 in all82%
Colonial Heights CountyBest late March · 49 checklists that week, 889 in all74%
Waynesboro CountyBest mid January · 72 checklists that week, 3,400 in all73%
Charles CityBest the second week of January · 24 checklists that week, 2,357 in all70%
Covington CountyBest the second week of April · 14 checklists that week, 217 in all67%
Buena Vista CountyBest late December · 11 checklists that week, 525 in all66%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Virginia?: Canada Geese are in Virginia all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in early April (37% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of May. In the quietest week (late June) they are still on about 13% of checklists. They are by far the most reported gooses in Virginia.
When do geese leave Virginia?: Canada Geese never fully leave Virginia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of May, but some are still reported in every week, about 13% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Virginia?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in early April, on about 37% of Virginia checklists.
Which geese are in Virginia?: Canada Goose and Snow Goose are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.