If you ever find yourself near a lake, pond, or grassy area and hear a loud, honking call, chances are you’re hearing the sounds of the Canada goose. This large waterfowl species is known for its black head, white cheeks, long black neck, tan brown body, and loud, nasal honking.
Canada geese are a common sight across much of North America and have become so widespread that they are often considered pests. However, these unique birds have some fascinating traits that make them stand out in the avian world.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the bird behind that distinctive honk.
Physical Features and Appearance
Size and Shape
The Canada goose has a long neck, large body, and webbed feet (perfectly adapted for an aquatic lifestyle). An adult can reach a length of 30-43 inches, a wingspan of 54-72 inches, and a weight of 7-14 pounds. Males and females appear similar in size and plumage.
Their rotund, football-like shape with a flat back allows them to swim low in the water.
Color Patterns
These striking waterfowl display intricate black and white color patterns on their feathers. Their head, chin strap, neck, back feathers, primaries (longest wing feathers), and tail are black. Their cheeks, throat, belly, undertail coverts (feathers closest to the tail), and secondary wing feathers are white.
The white chin strap contrasts sharply with the black head.
Beak and Feet
They have a large, black beak adapted for grasping aquatic vegetation. Their black webbed feet provide excellent propulsion in the water. The webs connecting their toes even extend beyond the toe tips!
| Size | 30-43 inches long |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 54-72 inches |
| Weight | 7-14 pounds |
To learn more about the appearance of Canada geese, check out resources like Audubon and All About Birds.
Habitat and Range
Breeding Areas
Canada geese breed in habitats located across North America. They prefer landscapes with ample water sources and good visibility to protect their nests and young from predators. The birds nest near marshes, ponds, lakes, rivers, and coastal wetlands with adjacent grassy areas to feed.
Ideal nesting spots provide dense aquatic vegetation for concealment and plenty of open water for easy takeoffs and landings.
Canada geese breed all across Alaska and Canada. Their breeding range extends south into the northern United States, including all of the Pacific Northwest, most of the Midwest, and the Northeast. Estimates suggest 3 to 5 million Canada geese nest in Alaska and Canada each year.
Wintering Grounds
During winter, Canada geese migrate south to escape frigid northern climates. Some geese only migrate as far south as the northern United States. However, many travel over 1,000 miles to reach traditional wintering grounds in the southern U.S. and Mexico.
The birds prefer open fields near bodies of water where they can feed on winter wheat and rest on large lakes and reservoirs. Major wintering sites include the Central Valley of California, the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana, and the Atlantic Coast from South Carolina to Florida.
Urban and Suburban Environments
Over the last 50 years, Canada geese have adapted remarkably well to man-made landscapes in urban and suburban areas. Parks, golf courses, sports fields, corporate lawns, shopping malls, airports, reservoir shorelines, and other sites provide attractive habitats for the birds.
Abundant mowed grass offers ideal feeding sites. Ponds and retention pools supply water for roosting and drinking. Plus, urban sites lack natural predators, allowing goose populations to grow rapidly. Today, many Canada geese residing east of the Mississippi River no longer migrate at all due to the abundance of urban habitats.
Diet and Feeding
Plant Foods
Canada geese are herbivorous birds that primarily feed on various plant foods. Their diet consists of green vegetation like grasses, sedges, clover, agricultural crops like wheat, corn, rice, and berries. Aquatic plants near water bodies also comprise a decent part of their Nutrition.
During winter and migration, they rely more on agricultural crops and berries due to reduced availability of aquatic vegetation.
According to research from the University of California 1, the top 5 plant foods in the diet of Canada geese are –
- Grasses – Festuca, Lolium, Echinochloa
- Sedges – Carex, Cyperus
- Agricultural crops – Wheat, Rice, Corn
- Clovers – Trifolium
- Berries – Vaccinium, Rubus
Animal Prey
Though primarily herbivorous, Canada geese also feed on small aquatic animals, especially invertebrates. Insects, mollusks, fish eggs, crustaceans, and occasionally small fish and frogs constitute their non-vegetarian Nutrition.
As per a study published in Frontiers in Ecology and The Environment journal 2, animal prey comprises 5-10% of their annual food consumption depending on seasonal availability.
| Animal Prey | Examples |
| Insects | Caterpillars, Beetle larvae |
| Mollusks | Snails, Mussels |
| Crustaceans | Shrimps, Crabs |
| Fish eggs | Salmon, Trout |
| Amphibians | Frogs, Salamanders |
Foraging Behavior
Canada geese exhibit fascinating foraging behavior tuned over centuries of evolution for optimal utilization of seasonal food resources. They have regular feeding grounds near nesting sites for raising young ones and stopover sites during migration flights up to 1,500 miles long!
They forage in flocks early morning and late afternoon spending 4-8 hours a day feeding. Being waterbirds, they feed both on land in open grasslands and wetlands wading through shallow water with their long necks submerged to reach aquatic plants.
They are selective feeders choosing nutritious shoots, berries, tender leaves over fibrous mature vegetation.
Their excellent eyesight helps locate food patches from a far distance mid-flight. During lean winter periods, they become more terrestrial relying on leftover agricultural grains in fields. They migrate long distances when regional food resources are exhausted, adapting their diet according to new locations.
The Canada goose is certainly one flexible feeder when it flocks together! Its varied plant-based diet supplemented with small aquatic animals provides a wholesome balance of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Migration and Flight
Spring and Fall Migrations
Canada geese are migratory birds that make epic journeys each year between their breeding and wintering grounds. In spring, they migrate north to take advantage of abundant food sources to build up fat reserves for the breeding season.
In fall, they migrate south to more temperate climates with open water and plentiful food supplies.
During both migrations, Canada geese travel in their iconic V-shaped flying formation over distances of up to 1,500 miles. Their migrations are staggered, with some populations moving south as early as August or September, while others wait until late October or November.
The spring migration back north generally takes place between February and April.
These incredible migration flights allow Canada geese to take advantage of seasonal food and habitat resources. Their ability to fly such long distances is aided by large fat reserves, aerodynamic body shape, and rotating leadership in the flying V formation.
V-Shaped Flight Formation
The V-shaped flight formation used by Canada geese during migration offers significant aerodynamic advantages. By flying in a V, each bird can take advantage of lift from the wingtips of birds in front, saving energy during flight.[1] The front position is rotated since it requires the most effort.
When a lead goose tires, it will fall back into formation allowing another to take over at the front.
Flying in a V also aids communication and coordination during the long migrations. The geese make various honking sounds to encourage those up front, signal for formation changes, or warn of predators.
These vocalizations help the flock stay together and oriented despite changes in weather or other conditions.
Research has found that the ideal V formation has between 5-20 members. This allows all birds to efficiently take advantage of the aerodynamic lift while maintaining close communication. Larger flocks will often break into smaller V’s and reform throughout migration as conditions change.
Wing Structure and Flight Style
Several adaptations give Canada geese the stamina and power needed for their long migratory flights:
- Large wingspan up to 5.6 feet provides lift and prevents stalling at slower speeds.
- Lightweight skeleton to reduce energy expenditure in flight.
- Streamlined body shape to reduce drag.
- Powerful breast muscles (up to 10% of body weight) to drive wing strokes.
- Efficient respiratory and cardiovascular systems to deliver oxygen to muscles during sustained exertion.
In flight, Canada geese alternate between slow wing beats and short periods of gliding. This conserves energy on long migrations compared to continuously powered flapping. Depending on conditions, they typically fly at speeds of 30-50 mph but can reach up to 70 mph with a strong tailwind.
Their ability to take advantage of updrafts and other weather patterns also aids in migration. By climbing to higher altitudes, the geese can gain speed with less effort. They have been recorded flying as high as several thousand feet on some migratory journeys.
Nesting, Mating, and Raising Young
Nest Building
Canada geese build their nests in secluded areas near water, seeking safety from predators. The female leads the search for nest sites, preferring islands, muskrat houses, or elevated ground. She scrapes together a nest of grasses, moss, lichens, leaves, and down feathers plucked from her breast.
Nests average 20 inches across and 8 inches high, with a 4-6 inch depression to cradle the eggs. Some pairs return to and reuse the same nest site year after year.
Egg Laying and Incubation
Once the nest is completed, the female begins laying eggs. She produces an average of 5 eggs, at a rate of 1 per day. The eggs are white or pale buff, about 3.5 inches long. While the female sits on the nest, the male stands guard nearby, ready to chase off intruders.
Incubation begins when the last egg is laid, lasting 25-28 days until hatching. To keep the eggs warm, the goose rotates her position, gently rolling the eggs with her bill.
Gosling Development
Soon after hatching, the young goslings leave the nest with their parents, beginning to feed on tender grass shoots. They grow adult flight feathers by 6-7 weeks and fledge at 9-10 weeks old. The parents staunchly protect their young, hissing warnings or feigning a broken wing to distract predators.
Survival of goslings into their first fall migration averages a remarkable 70-90%, thanks to this diligent parenting. The following spring, now nearly adult size, the yearlings return north with their parents to the same nesting grounds.
To learn more about Canada goose behavior, check out articles on the Audubon and Michigan State University websites.
Conclusion
With their large size, black and white plumage, and noisy honking, Canada geese stand out among North America’s waterfowl. These widespread birds thrive near waterways across much of the continent thanks to their ability to fly long distances, feed on many food sources, and aggressively defend nests.
While sometimes considered pests, Canada geese are impressive creatures that warrant appreciation for their unique traits and resilience.
The next time you hear that distinctive honking near a lake or pond, take a moment to admire the only goose known for its honking call – the remarkable Canada goose.
