Alaska · Summer breeder

Canada Gooses in Alaska

When Canada geese are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.

Ducks and geese (Anatidae)Canada GooseBranta canadensis

Status in Alaska: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 1a–8a

When to expect Canada geese in Alaska

Canada Gooses are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent.

Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.

Nesting in Alaska

Across Alaska, Canada geese typically nest from April–June. Plan around that window: March for setup, June for clean-out.

A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.

Canada Gooses don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, willow (bebb), dwarf birch for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Alaska plants that attract Canada geese

Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 4 provide food or cover Canada geese use:

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Feeding Canada geese through the Alaska year

Top foods: None — do not feed; flocks foul lawns and water.
In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for Canada geese · Best feeder for Canada geese

Frequently asked

Are Canada geese in Alaska year-round?

No. Canada Gooses are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.

When do Canada geese nest in Alaska?

Nesting in Alaska typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–8 eggs, incubated for 25–28 days.

What native plants attract Canada geese in Alaska?

Paper birch, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for Canada geese.

Other backyard birds in Alaska

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-winged Blackbird Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler American Tree Sparrow Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Chestnut-backed Chickadee Rufous Hummingbird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Belted Kingfisher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.