Details
Branta canadensis
The Canada goose is a large goose familiar around North American water and grassland. It is diurnal, flocking to fly, graze, and move seasonally.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses lakes, rivers, marshes, farmland, and park lawns. Sites with water beside short grass allow easy feeding and refuge.
Wingspan is about 130-185 cm and weight about 3-6.5 kg. A black head and neck, white cheek patch, and brown body are characteristic.
Active by day, it moves in family groups and larger flocks. In flight, birds often form V-shaped lines and keep contact with calls.
It is herbivorous, eating grasses, shoots, aquatic plants, and grain. It grazes on land and also feeds in shallow water.
Pairs nest on the ground near water. The downy young are precocial and soon walk and swim with their parents.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. It adapts readily to human-made ponds and lawns, sometimes forming large local flocks.
