Cackling Goose

Race leucopareia
Photo © by Marysan
Lindo Lake, Lakeside, California, USA.

Branta hutchinsii

Identification

Photo © by jbissell
Northern Iowa, October 2006

55–110 cm (21¾-43¼ in)

• Black head and neck
• White chinstrap
• Pale tan to brown breast
• Brown back
• White rump
• White undertail
• Black tail, legs, iris and bill

Similar species

Canada Goose differs in a number of ways^{[3, 4]}

Distribution

North America.

Taxonomy

Was until recently considered part of Canada Goose

Subspecies

There are 4 subspecies^[1]:

• B. h. leucopareia - Aleutian Cackling Goose
  • Aleutian Islands, Alaska
• B. h. hutchinsii - Richardson's Cackling Goose
  • North-central Canada and rare but regular in Greenland
• B. h. minima
  • West Alaska coast to Mackenzie delta
• B. h. taverneri - Taverner's Cackling Goose
  • Central Alaska to Mackenzie delta

A fifth subspecies, B. h. asiatica from Bering Sea was last retported in 1914 and is presumed extinct.

Habitat

Tundra near ponds and streams, coastal marshes.

Behaviour

Breeding

The nest is a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. The clutch consists of 2-8 cream eggs.

Diet

The diet includes aquatic plants, insects, molluscs and crustaceans.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. All About Birds
3. Sibley on identification of Cackling vs Canada Goose
4. Much more information on Cackling Goose in this page
5. "Canada Goose" types in Greenland

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Cackling Goose. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cackling_Goose

External Links

Search for photos of Cackling Goose in the gallery