What month do geese migrate south?

Geese typically migrate south in the fall to escape the cold winter months in their breeding grounds in the north. The exact timing of their migration can vary depending on the species of goose, weather conditions, and location, but most begin their southern journeys between September and November.

When do Canada Geese Migrate?

Canada geese are among the most common goose species in North America. They breed throughout Canada and Alaska and migrate south to overwinter as far south as Mexico. Here is a typical Canada goose migration timeline:

• Early September: Canada geese begin to gather in staging areas and form large flocks prior to migration. Areas such as James Bay in northern Ontario host hundreds of thousands of staging geese in September.
• Mid September to Early October: Peak migration period for Canada geese. Large v-shaped flocks start heading south, primarily following major flyways over the Great Lakes and along the Mississippi River Valley.
• Late October to Mid November: The last Canada geese depart their northern breeding grounds. Some geese, especially juveniles, may linger into December.
• March: Canada geese begin the return trip north to their breeding grounds. They follow similar flyways and stopover sites as in the fall.

Snow Goose Migration Timing

Snow geese are another common migratory goose species in North America. They nest even further north than Canada geese, above the Arctic Circle in places like Alaska and Northern Canada. Their migration is a bit later than Canada geese:

• Mid to Late September: Snow geese gather in huge flocks of hundreds of thousands at coastal estuaries before migration.
• October: Peak snow goose migration takes place. Large flocks leave northwest Canada and Alaska and fly south in massive “waves” along the Central and Mississippi Flyways.
• November: Most snow geese have departed the Arctic by late November, though some linger into December.
• Early Spring: Snow geese follow the same pathways back north, returning to the Arctic in March and April as the tundra thaws.

Migration Timing for Other Goose Species

Here is an overview of migration timelines for some other common goose species that migrate through or winter in the United States:

What Triggers Goose Migration?

Geese migrate south in the fall to escape harsh winter conditions where their food sources become unavailable. Their migration is triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors:

• Changing day length – As days get shorter in the late summer and fall, hormonal changes prompt geese to start aggregating and preparing to move south.
• Weather – The onset of colder temperatures, rain, snow, and freezing conditions provides additional stimulus to migrate.
• Food availability – Geese will start to migrate south as food supply diminishes on their northern breeding grounds.
• Inherited traits – Migration timing is encoded genetically, and geese instinctively know when it’s time to move based on past generations.

How Do Geese Know When to Migrate?

Geese rely on a mix of inherited genetic programming and environmental cues to determine when to migrate each year. Here are some of the ways geese know when to start their southern journeys each fall:

• Responding to day length – Like many birds, geese use the changing duration of daylight as a primary cue. As days shorten in late summer, hormone levels change to induce fat storage and migration restlessness.
• Sensing weather and temperature – Dropping temperatures and arrival of rain or snow cause geese to start migrating south.
• Watching other geese – Geese pay attention to the actions of older birds around them. When elders start aggregating and flying south, the younger geese will follow.
• Changing food supplies – Declining food availability as winter approaches means it’s time to move to warmer areas with better forage.
• Ancestral imprinting – Migration timing is imprinted genetically over many generations. The urge and timing to move south is inherited from predecessors.

How Far South Do Geese Migrate?

Geese migrate as far south as needed to find open water and unfrozen ground where they can forage. Exact migration distances and final wintering locations depend on the species:

• Canada geese – Migrate from subarctic breeding zones like Hudson Bay down to the southern U.S. Some remain in northern states like Pennsylvania and Oregon while others travel as far south as Texas and Mexico.
• Snow geese – Nest in the far north Arctic but migrate thousands of miles inland and down to Mexico and the Gulf Coast region.
• Cackling geese – Breed in Alaska and northwestern Canada. Migrate down the Pacific Flyway through Oregon and California or the Central Flyway into Texas and Mexico.
• Ross’s geese – High Arctic nesters that migrate across the western U.S. into Mexico, Texas, New Mexico and California.

Geese stop migrating once they reach areas with ice-free waterbodies and sufficient food resources. The availability of agricultural croplands and wetlands provides ideal winter habitat attractive to migrating geese.

Conclusion

Most goose species that breed in the far northern regions of North America migrate south in the fall to overwinter in more temperate regions. Migration typically begins in September as daylight hours decrease, peaks from October to November, and finishes by early December. Canada geese, snow geese, white-fronted geese, cackling geese, and other species follow ancestral flyways to wintering grounds from the mid-U.S. southward to Mexico. The exact timing and distance of migration depends on factors like weather, food supply, and sub-species characteristics imprinted over generations. Understanding migration patterns provides insights into goose behavior and helps inform conservation efforts for these remarkable birds.