Species Name: Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis)

Length: 24-45" WS 50"

Description: This variable species includes our largest and nearly our smallest geese. All have black necks, brownish breasts and white cheek patches. Smaller birds are relatively small-billed and short-necked. Pacific breeders are darker than all others, and northern breeders are generally smaller than southern. Occasional variants of all populations have dark cheeks or whitish forehead.

Range: Virtually all of North America and currently extending their range in recent years. They have become a common occurrence and can be seen in all 50 states.

Habitat: Found in a wide variety of habitats near water including tundra, open country, semi-dessert, wooded and suburban areas. Acclimated well to people, they are often found in city parks and golf courses. Often seen feeding in wetlands and cultivated fields or flying in their familiar V formation. Winters south to Mexico.

Nesting: Usually near water, made of dry grass, forbs, moss, sticks, aquatic vegetation, etc. Down and feathers added as incubation begins. Occasionally use abandoned or man-made nests, especially if snow is present on the ground. Female builds the nest. Eggs are white to nest stain color. Female incubates young 25-30 days, both sexes tend young. Young can fly after 43-70 days.

Diet: Shoots, roots and seeds of grass, mollusks, grain, berries. Mostly grain and foliage in winter.

Odd Facts: Long term pair bond. Strong fidelity to nesting territory. Male usually leads young on water, and if disturbed, young will dive. Male performs distraction display; sentinels always guard foraging flocks and call to signal impending danger. Courting male holds head one inch off the ground, open-billed, raised tongue, hissing loudly. Aleutian sub-species is endangered.

Voice:Familiar call a loud, resonant, and musical honk h-ronk and h-lenk; flock chorus is gentle, slow-paced, and mellow - no harsh notes; other soft, grunting calls.

Tips on Photography: The fact that Canada Geese have adapted so well to the human environment makes these birds relatively easy to photograph. You do not need a super telephoto lens to get acceptable images. Semi-domesticated birds, found in many city parks are most approachable. Head shots with 70-200 or 300 mm lenses are possible with slow approach. Flight shooting as well as getting images of birds landing is a little more difficult, usually requiring longer lenses and more natural environment such as a wildlife refuge. Exposure is always toughest thing to get right with these birds, especially in bright sun as they have both black and white feathers. I usually expose for the highlights and make levels adjustments to get the shadow areas exposed correctly.

Related or Similar Species: There are a dozen or more sub-species recognized, all with similar habitats and wide variation in size. Many intermediate birds cannot be correctly identified in the field. Most abundant sub-species include Common, Aleutian, Cackling, Dusky, Richardson's and Lesser. Similar to the Barnacle Goose.

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