- Branta canadensis
Identification
55–110 cm (21½-43¼ in)
- Light-brown body
- Black neck and head with white chinstrap
- Breast lighter than the rest of the body
- White vent
- Black tail
Distribution
North America and Canada.
Widespread feral populations throughout Europe from escaped wildfowl collections.
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Taxonomy
Ornithologists named the four smallest subspecies of Canada Goose as a separate species in 2004: the Cackling Goose.
Subspecies
There are 7 subspecies[1]:
- B. c. moffitti - Large Canada Goose
- B. c. interior - Medium Canada Goose
- B. c. canadensis - Medium Canada Goose
- Breeds in Newfoundland and Labrador
- B. c. maxima - Giant Canada Goose
- Formerly Great Plains, now only in wildlife reserves
- B. c. occidentalis - Dusky Canada Goose
- Southwestern Alaska
- B. c. fulva - Dusky Canada Goose
- Coastal southern Alaska to British Columbia
- B. c. parvipes - Lesser Canada Goose
- Central Alaska to Canadian prairie
Habitat
Typically wetlands and farmland, occasionally urban settings.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest is placed near water. The clutch of 3-8 eggs is laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. Incubation takes 25–28 days.
Diet
The diet includes green vegetation, grains, aquatic plants, sometimes small insects and fish.
Vocalisation
Male and female pair off with ahonk and hink, respectively, while in flight.
<flashmp3>Branta canadensis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Wikipedia
- "Canada Goose" types in Greenland
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Canada Goose. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Canada_Goose
External Links
