BACK

Canada Goose

(Branta canadensis)

Photo Temporarily Unavailable

Size             : 16 - 45 inches long, 50 - 68 inches wide

Description      : Male   - Black neck and head, with white bib. 
                            Chest and belly are white, tan back with black accents.
                          
                 : Female - Like male
                   
                  
Preferred Habitat: Ponds, rivers, bays, fields, fresh and saltwater marshes

Preferred food   : Corn, scratch feed, grasses, marsh and aquatic plants
 
Breeding Range   : From Arctic coast south to southern United States

Winter Range     : Southern Great Lakes and Nova Scotia to New England, south to the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, 
                   and Southeastern Alaska to California

Interesting Facts: Canada geese defend an area between one quarter and one acre until the time of hatching.
                   A goose defending its territory should not be taken lightly:
                     1. As a mild threat, it lowers its head and hisses
                     2. If intending to attack, the male calls 'ahonk' (the female just says, 'honk')and
                        rapidly lowers and raises its head.
                     3. Very aggressive behavior prior to attack includes waving its head and neck back and forth.
                        It is interesting that this behavior is also included in the greeting of mates.
                   Canada geese mate for life and appear to grieve the loss of a partner.
                   The nest is merely a depression in the ground, near water, lined with twigs or grasses.
                   Clutch size is 4 - 10, incubation period is 28 days
                   Nestling period = 1 day (precocial), broods per season = 1
                   As fledglings, the young depend on the parents only for protection