Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Pronounced (approx.): BRAN-tuh kan-uh-DEN-siss
This familiar goose often grazes on land and gathers in family groups or flocks.
Three Identification Clues
Black head and long black neck with a white cheek-and-chin patch.
Brown body, pale breast, and a pale undertail area.
A substantial body and long neck; compare size and bill proportions with Cackling Goose.
Field Photographs
Showing 8 of 17 photographs.
Beyond the first impression
Plumage & Identification
Start with the whole pattern
The white cheek patch continues beneath the chin, contrasting with a black head and neck. Brown upperparts, a paler chest, and white beneath the tail complete the pattern. A swimming bird can shorten its neck, so watch it become alert before judging proportions. [1]
Not every flock member looks alike
Canada Geese vary substantially in size and darkness. That variation is not simply a male-versus-female difference. Cackling Goose is a separate species with a similar black-necked pattern; compare several features when a small individual stands out. Downy goslings look yellowish and have not yet developed the adult pattern. [1] [4]
Life history
How This Bird Lives
Where to look
Scan the transition between water and open feeding ground. Short lawns offer both grass and a clear view of approaching danger, which helps explain the attraction of park ponds. A familiar neighborhood flock may include year-round residents as well as seasonal visitors. [2] [3]
Food & foraging
These geese graze while walking and reach underwater for plants. Grasses and sedges are important in the growing season; grains, seeds, and berries become more useful later. Watch the feeding method instead of assuming every waterbird dives for fish. [2] [4]
Ready to walk, not ready to fly
The female selects a nest site, usually on slightly raised ground near water, and lines the nest with down. She incubates the 2–8 eggs for about 25–28 days while the male guards nearby. [2]
Goslings generally leave within 1–2 days of hatching. Both parents tend them, but the young pick up their own food. First flight usually comes around 7–9 weeks later, not when they first enter the water. Please leave family groups space to move between feeding areas and water. [4]
Did you know?
A Closer Look at Canada Geese
Resident does not mean motionless
Some geese that stay north in winter still travel northward after breeding to molt. Seasonal movements can be more complicated than a simple spring-and-fall trip. [3]
Families can combine
Several broods may travel and feed together under adult supervision. A large group of goslings therefore does not necessarily represent one unusually large clutch. [2]
Size can influence pairing
Birds tend to choose partners of similar size. This is one reason a pair can look alike even within a flock containing much larger or smaller individuals. [3]
Sources: [1] Cornell · Identification [2] Cornell · Life history [3] Cornell · Species overview [4] Audubon · Field guide
Range & Sightings
Recorded Observations
Explore sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.
Keep Learning
Compare several photographs, then listen to recordings to connect appearance with voice.