Appearance: black head with white cheeks, black beak, black s-shaped neck that straightens in flight, dark brown fish-scale pattern on back, sides vary from brown to brown-striped white, brown to white belly and breast, black rump and tail with white “u” marking, dark webbed feet
No significant differences between males and females
Canadian geese are also known as “honkers”
Height: 30-45 inches (about 2.5 to 4 feet)
Wingspan: 50-75 inches (about 4 -6 feet)
Status: common, populations increasing
In the early 1900s, one of the largest subspecies, the “giant” Canada goose, was almost hunted to extinction, but has now recovered so well after restoration programs that they have become pests in some areas of the southern U.S.
Habitat
Can be found in nearly any habitat near a body of water across North America
Canadian geese are drawn to lawns because it gives them easy view of threats/predators
Abundant in parks, airports, golf courses, and suburbs with expansive lawns
Canada geese can become so abundant in communities that they become a nuisance: they foul lawns and buildings and can collide with airplanes
Canadian geese that live farther north are smaller than those farther south (small size helps to conserve body heat)
As you move westward, feathers become darker
They are classified into 7 different subspecies, only a few are easily identifiable
Previously there were 11, but the 4 smallest were renamed cackling geese
Long Island is home to Hudson Bay Canadian geese (white belly, top left) and Atlantic Canadian geese (pale brown belly, top right)
Can also sometimes be found in northern Europe
Diet
Canadian geese are mostly herbivores, their diet is seasonal
Spring and summer – eat grasses and sedges
Fall and winter – berries, seeds, agricultural grains (such as corn)
During spring and summer sometimes eat insects and small fish as well
In some suburban communities, Canadian geese have adapted to grazing on domesticated grass (lawns), which they eat year-round
When foraging in shallow water, paddle at surface of water and dip their heads under to rip up plants from bottom
Migration
In the United States, most populations are residential and only migrate locally
Populations in Canada or arctic circle migrate to Southern United States as lakes and ponds begin to freeze, return to arctic when weather warms and ice thaws
Fly in flocks with distinctive V-shape formation, also frequently honk in flight
V-formation is highly efficient because flapping from birds in front create lift, causing birds in the back (usually more inexperienced) to use less energy in flight
Also makes it easier for birds to communicate and cooperate – honking
Nesting
For most of the year, Canadian geese travel, forage, and roost in flocks
During mating season, mating pairs break off from flock and defend nesting territories
Canada geese may attack people near their nesting site, hiss or rattle as a warning
Males and females have one mate for life, often stay together throughout the year in U.S.
“Assortative mating” – males and females choose mates of similar size
Nest is usually depression lined with sticks, grass, and moss on dry, slightly elevated ground but near a body of water
Average brood is 2-8 creamy white eggs
Egg oiling is commonly used as method of population control – chemical is applied to exterior of egg to stop it from developing
Goslings begin to wander from nest within 1-2 days after hatching
Forage on own under supervision of parents – follow parents to body of water
In areas with lots of breeding geese, “brood gangs” of 20-100 goslings may form under the supervision of a few adults – the “gangs” feed, travel, and roost together, basically a flock of goslings
Age at first flight varies by size, but most juveniles learn to fly after 7-9 weeks
Canadian geese do not normally breed until their fourth year – if they breed earlier than 4 years, their relationship with their mate could be unstable
Average lifespan is about 10-25 years, but the oldest Canadian goose was 33 years old
