Branta canadensis
Once decimated through overhunting and habitat destruction, the Canada Goose has rebounded to become one of North America’s most abundant and familiar wildfowl.
The Canada Goose is a large, handsome wildfowl species with a long black neck and head and a broad white strap that runs under the chin to either side of the face. They are dark gray-brown above but paler below, with white under the tail and vent. Their thickset legs and webbed feet are black.
Females look the same as males, although they tend to be smaller. Juveniles have a more uniform brownish back without the pale-edged feathers typical of adults. The start of their black neck plumage is also less crisply defined.
Canada Geese have very similar plumage to the Cackling Goose, which is much smaller and has a shorter neck.
Canada Goose adult
Juvenile Canada Geese
Canada Geese are the world’s largest goose species. Their size varies among the seven known subspecies, with B. c. maxima (Giant Canada Goose) being the largest.
Canada Geese may have a body length of up to 45 inches or 1.15m.
Adults can weigh anything from five to over 20 pounds, and males are generally larger than females.
These birds have a typical wingspan of 51 to 71 inches or 1.3 to 1.8 meters, although the largest specimens can top seven feet (2.1 m).
Canada Goose feeding on grass
Canada Geese produce a familiar honking call. Females have a higher pitched voice, and their call is often described as a ‘hrink.’ They also hiss when agitated.
Canada Goose making a honking call
Canada Geese are mostly vegetarian, feeding on grass, seeds, berries, and bulbs. Their strong, serrated bills are ideal for tearing grass and uprooting plants, but they also feed on softer aquatic vegetation. Agricultural grains like corn and wheat are important during the winter months.
Canada Goose goslings hatch out ready to walk, swim, and feed themselves. They eat grass at first, feeding themselves without help from their parents.
Canada Goose adult swimming and feeding with its young
Canada Geese are very adaptable, living and feeding in many different habitats. They have adapted to life around our towns, cities, and farms but also occur in wilderness areas from the treeless Arctic to arid deserts. Typical habitats include marshes, lakes, and ponds, but they often feed in fields away from water.
Canada Geese are widespread in North America, occurring in Mexico, The United States (including Alaska), and Canada. They were also introduced to New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and several mainland European countries.
Some Canada Geese live in the same area all their lives, while others are great travelers, flying thousands of miles each year. They may be waterfowl, but they are quite comfortable on foot and can run pretty fast. They swim well too, even diving and feeding on plants growing under the water. You are most likely to see these birds foraging near water or flying overhead.
Canada Geese are an abundant species in North America and highly successful where they have been introduced in Europe. Their numbers usually vary with the seasons as they migrate to and from their breeding grounds, although they are common throughout the year in many areas.
Canada Goose bathing in the water
Birdwatchers can see Canada Geese in any state in the Continental US, although they are strictly summer visitors in Alaska and mostly winter visitors in the South. These birds are now year-round residents across most of the northern half of the lower 48, where they are frequently seen around lawned areas near ponds, sports fields, and farmland.
As their name suggests, Canada Geese are widespread breeding visitors to Canada, occurring in every province and territory. They can be seen year-round along the west coast and in the south of British Columbia, along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, and in coastal areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Canada Geese are a familiar sight in the UK, despite being a non-native species. They can be seen around lakes, ponds, and lawned areas across most of England and Wales, with smaller numbers in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Canada Goose feeding next to a river
Canada Geese can live for over 30 years in the wild, although 10 to 25 years is more typical.
The Adult Canada Goose presents a large and intimidating target for most predators. However, Humans, Coyotes, and large birds of prey like Snowy Owls, Bald Eagles, and Golden Eagles can overpower them. Their eggs and chicks are vulnerable to foxes, Ravens, and larger Gull species.
Canada Geese are protected by both the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (USA) and the Migratory Birds Convention Act (Canada) in North America. They are also a protected species in the United Kingdom, despite being introduced there.
Canada Geese are not endangered. These widespread waterfowl have an increasing population trend and a ‘Least Concern’ status on the IUCN Red List.
Family of Canada Geese walking through a park
Canada Geese usually nest on the ground near water. The nest begins as a shallow scrape which is then lined with whatever plant material is found nearby. The female will also add her own soft feathers to the nest, but only after she has begun to lay her eggs.
Check out our in-depth guide for much more information on Canada Goose nesting.
Canada Geese nest in the spring and summer, although their timing varies from year to year, depending on the weather. They may begin as early as March in some areas, while northern populations wait until mid-summer to lay their eggs.
Canada Geese lay two to eight large, cream-white eggs. Their size and number vary depending on the subspecies.
Canada Geese form strong, life-long pair bonds. However, they will seek a new partner if their mate dies.
Pair of Canada Geese at their nest
Canada Geese are large, powerful birds, and they can be aggressive toward humans when nesting, particularly in suburban settings where they are used to our presence. Wild birds rarely attack humans but are highly territorial when nesting and often fight over feeding areas.
Read this article to learn more about aggression in geese.
Canada Geese sleep at the water’s edge or while floating/swimming. They prefer islands where they are safer from predators, and they may sleep standing on one or both legs. Swimming birds can control their position by drifting or even swimming in a circle.
Pair of Canada Geese standing on a frozen river defending their territory
Canada Geese have various migration strategies. Large flocks flying in skeins (V-formation) in spring and fall are still a common sight, although increasing numbers have become sedentary. They migrate during the day or night, flying fast and usually below about 3,000 feet.
Check out our in-depth guide to learn much more about the Canada Goose migration.
Canada Geese can migrate impressive distances of over 2000 miles, sometimes traveling over a thousand miles in a single day with favorable winds.
Migratory Canada Goose populations move between nesting grounds as far north as the North Coast of Alaska in the summer and return to the Lower 48 US states and northern Mexico for the winter. However, the various subspecies have different breeding and overwintering ranges.
Scientific name:
Branta canadensis
Other names:
Canadian Goose
Family:
Ducks, geese and swansConservation status:
Introduced
Length:
75cm to 115cm
Wingspan:
130cm to 180cm
Weight:
2.4g to 10.9g
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