Canada Goose – Length: 36-45 inches, Wing span: 53-60 inches
Common, widespread, and increasing, the Canada Goose is well known to most people and occurs in many settings from rural to suburban. Often welcomed at first, Canada Geese may soon be accused of making a mess on golf courses or at city park lakes, and can be difficult to displace.
Canada Geese have a range of subspecies which vary dramatically in size. The smallest four subspecies were recently split into a separate species, the Cackling Goose. The giant subspecies known as maxima was once nearly extinct, but has since recovered and established non-migratory populations in many areas.
Sexes are similar.
Dark head and neck with white chin strap. Dark gray back and flanks. White under the tail.
Note the sloped appearance to the bill and the head. Photograph © Sam Crowe.
Geese are grazers and feed on a variety of grasses and seeds. Dwarfs the Ring-billed Gull in the background. Photograph © Sam Crowe.
Distinctive black and white tail pattern visible on the more distance of the 2 birds on the back left. Extra points if you can identify the small shorebird flying to the right. Photograph © Sam Crowe
Long wings are required to support the heavy bodies in flight. Photograph © Glenn Bartley.
The wing tips are darker than the other flight feathers and back. Melanin provides the black color, which increases the feather strength where it is needed most. Photograph Glenn Bartley.
Canada Geese fly with their relatively long neck stretched out. Little under-wing contrast. Photograph © Glenn Bartley.
Geese are famous for flying in a “V” pattern during migration, although this photo just hints at that arrangement. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
Canada Geese will bob with tails up to feed on aquatic vegetation. Photograph © Glenn Bartley.
Canada Goose with young. Photograph © Tom Gray.