Canada Goose

Introduction

This is the most widespread and commonly seen goose. In contrast to other members of this family which are primarily aquatic, this species is primarily terrestrial. It was once a migratory species but now overwinters wherever food is abundant. It occurs from Alaska and northern Canada south throughout most of Canada and the United States, except for most of the Pacific Coast states.

Recognition

Adults are about 22-25 inches long. Typically brownish gray in color with head and neck black with bright white patch on cheeks, and chin, bill, legs, and feet back, and rump white; with much regional variation in color. The voice of large birds is loud, resonant honking; small birds have high-pitched yelping notes.

Habits

Canada geese nest at the edges of ponds, lakes or swamps, on rocks or grass hammocks out in the water, and around buildings near bodies of water, such as apartment buildings. The nest is made of sticks, mosses, and grasses lined with down.

They feed on submerged vegetation, grasses, clover, winter wheat, and waste grain, especially corn.

These are the familiar geese, which fly in V-shaped formations and give forth their musical honking calls. They breed from Alaska and northern Canada south to California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennesse, and North Carolina. They winter from southeastern Alaska, Utah, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, Maritime Provinces south to Mexico, the Gulf Coast and Florida. Some geese which once migrated now overwinter because food is locally provided by people. Although feeding geese gives many people pleasure, it can result in problems.

Canada geese can be a major nuisance and create serious problems on golf courses, in parks, in residences with large ponds, and similar locations. Such places can become overrun by large numbers of geese which foul the area with their large and numerous droppings. They also can overgraze the grass and wear it to the ground. They may become quite aggressive, especially during breeding.