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Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
Canada Goose, photographed by Mahesh Mohan

Photo: Mahesh Mohan · Pexels · Pexels License (licence)

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Call and song

About the Canada Goose

A large brown goose with a black neck and white chinstrap. Overall size, bill size, and brown coloration variable across subspecies. Occurs in any open or wetland habitat, from city parks and golf courses to pristine marshes and Arctic tundra. Typically in flocks or family groups. Often seen in mixed flocks with Cackling Goose, especially in central and western North America. Canada Goose is almost always larger, longer-necked, and longer-billed than Cackling, although beware there is some overlap between the smallest Canada and largest Cackling. Abundant and widespread throughout the U.S. and Canada; rare in Mexico. Introduced and widely established in Europe. Listen for loud honking calls, especially as flocks migrate overhead in the classic V formation.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 62 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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