Meadow & Feather

Birds › Lake and wetland › Canada Goose

Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

Families stay together for their first year, and flocks fly in a V to save energy by riding the air off the bird in front.

Where to see it for real: Common on park lakes and golf courses.

Spot it in the game

Lives in the Lake and wetland habitat (North American lakes and marshes).

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Photo: Diego González Dopico, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist. Cut out from the original photo.

Canada Goose facts

Family
Ducks, geese and swans
Length
35 in (90 cm)
Wingspan
59 in (150 cm)
Weight
8.8 lb (4 kg)
Diet
Grass, grain and water plants.
Range
Native across Canada and the United States; introduced in Britain, northern Europe and New Zealand.
Nest
A bowl of grass and down on the ground near water.
Song
Loud honking "ah-honk".
Active
at dawn, by day, at dusk and at night
Status
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List: widespread and not at risk.

What the Canada Goose sounds like

Recording 1: Doug Hynes, CC BY-SA 4.0, original on xeno-canto. Trimmed and cleaned of low background noise.
Recording 2: Sonothèque ADVL, CC0, original on xeno-canto. Trimmed and cleaned of low background noise.

More: bird songs and calls, birds at night.

More birds of the lake and wetland

Great Blue HeronGreat Blue HeronLake and wetlandGreat EgretGreat EgretLake and wetlandGreen HeronGreen HeronLake and wetlandBelted KingfisherBelted KingfisherLake and wetlandWood DuckWood DuckLake and wetlandMallardMallardLake and wetland

Spot the Canada Goose yourself

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