When do geese leave Washington?

Canada Geese never fully leave Washington: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid 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 Washington?

The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 34% of Washington checklists.

Which geese are in Washington?

Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Brant are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.

5 goose species in Washington

When Do Geese Arrive in Washington?

Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, and Snow Geese are the geese you are most likely to see in Washington. Canada Geese are in Washington all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in late March (34% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 13% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 15-21mid February

PeakMar 22-31late March

Fall back byMay 15-21mid May

FewestJun 15-21mid June

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from mid February and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 34% of Washington 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 Washington, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Canada Goose	Feb 15-21	Feb 15-21	Mar 22-31	May 15-21	34%
Cackling Goose	Sep 15-21	Sep 22-30	Oct 22-31	Apr 22-30	11%
Snow Goose	Sep 22-30	Oct 1-7	Oct 22-31	Apr 1-7	6.2%
Greater White-fronted Goose	Sep 15-21	Sep 15-21	Oct 1-7	May 8-14	3.3%
Brant	Nov 8-14	Nov 15-21	Mar 8-14	May 1-7	3.2%

Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted 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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak

Franklin CountyBest mid November · 81 checklists that week, 7,970 in all70%
Pend Oreille CountyBest early April · 33 checklists that week, 3,664 in all67%
Garfield CountyBest early March · 15 checklists that week, 1,130 in all66%
Asotin CountyBest mid March · 65 checklists that week, 4,316 in all61%
Benton CountyBest late October · 459 checklists that week, 23,565 in all55%
Spokane CountyBest the second week of March · 888 checklists that week, 43,379 in all51%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Washington?: Canada Geese are in Washington all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid February, peak in late March (34% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (mid June) they are still on about 13% of checklists.
When do geese leave Washington?: Canada Geese never fully leave Washington: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid 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 Washington?: The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 34% of Washington checklists.
Which geese are in Washington?: Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Brant are reported regularly; the Canada Goose is the most common.