General

Canada Goose: Large, long-necked goose with dark upperparts and paler underparts grading to white on vent. Head and neck are black with white chin bar. Body is usually gray-brown, although varies from dark brown to gray in different races. White semi-circle above black tail is visible in flight. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Canada Goose: Breeds from Alaska east to Baffin Island and south to California, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Spends winters south to northern Mexico and the Gulf coast.; also a widespread resident in city parks and on reservoirs. Preferred habitats include lakes, bays, rivers, marshes, and stubble fields.

Breeding and Nesting

Canada Goose: Four to seven white eggs are laid in a large nest made of grass and moss, lined with down, and built on the ground near water or on a muskrat lodge; sometimes uses an abandoned Osprey or Bald Eagle nest in a tree. Incubation ranges from 25 to 30 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Canada Goose: Eats a variety of grass when foraging terrestrially; 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.

Readily Eats

Cracked Corn

Vocalization

Canada Goose: Larger races have a rich, musical honking; smaller races have a high-pitched cackling.

Similar Species

Canada Goose: Brant is smaller, has black breast, white flanks, small white neck patch, and lacks white cheek patch.