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Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsiiOrder: ANSERIFORMES Family: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Codes: Common Name: CAGO Scientific Name: BRAHUT ITIS Taxonomic No.: 714068
Least Concern
 
Cackling Goose_2
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Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
Charm and Attraction
Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Cackling Goose: Formerly included in the Canada Goose family, this species is smaller with a rounder head and shorter neck and bill. There are four subspecies, we show the hutchinsii that has darker upperparts and a white neck ring. Winters from the southern Great Plains to the western Gulf Coast.

Range and Habitat

Cackling Goose: Native to North America. Breeds in northern Canada and western Alaska to Baffin Island, southward to central Yukon in a variety of tundra habitats. Winters from British Columbia south to California, northern Mexico and western Louisiana.

Topo Map:


Voice Text

"honk, honk, honk"

Interesting Facts

 The smallest form of the Cackling Goose is only a quarter the size of the "Giant Canada Goose" subspecies.

 Due to their smaller size, Cackling Geese (especially B.h. minima) display a faster wing beat than Canada Geese and their wings appear longer proportionally to their body size in flight.

 Down to less than 500 birds in the 1970s, the Aleutian Cackling goose is a success story in waterfowl management. Presently, population estimates based on observations of neck-banded Aleutian Cackling geese during winter 2006-07 was 118,700, 13% greater than the previous year.

 A group of geese has many collective nouns, including a "blizzard", "chevron", "knot", "plump", and "string" of geese.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Jane Wright Splitbar
Range Map for Cackling Goose

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Family Geese (Anatidae)_blue
Species Branta hutchinsii
Length22 - 30 Inches
Wingspan45 Inches

Cackling Goose

Cackling Goose: Formerly included in the Canada Goose family, this species is smaller with a rounder head and shorter neck and bill. There are four subspecies, we show the hutchinsii that has darker upperparts and a white neck ring. Winters from the southern Great Plains to the western Gulf Coast.

● Song: "honk, honk, honk"

● Foraging & Feeding: Cackling Goose: Eats a variety of grasses when foraging; also feeds on agricultural crops such as wheat, beans, rice, and corn. Sometimes tips like puddle ducks when feeding on aquatic plants such as wild celery, sea lettuce, and sago pondweed.

● Breeding & nesting: Cackling Goose: Two to eight white, nest-stained eggs are laid in a nest built near water by the female of sticks, grass, weeds, and moss lined with down. Sometimes on rocky clifs. Incubated by the female for 25-30 days.

● Similar species: Cackling Goose: Canada Goose is larger, head is larger, sloped, and bill is longer.

Flight Pattern

Strong deep wing beats.
Cackling Goose Body Illustration_2
● Range & Habitat: Cackling Goose: Native to North America. Breeds in northern Canada and western Alaska to Baffin Island, southward to central Yukon in a variety of tundra habitats. Winters from British Columbia south to California, northern Mexico and western Louisiana.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCommon to abundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight33.54 - 105.9 Ounces
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX