Range

North America is the native home of the Canada goose. Here they can be found throughout the United States of America, Greenland, Bahamas, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

They have been introduced to a range of countries including Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Faroe Islands, Finland, New Zealand, France, Poland, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Jamaica, Australia; Bermuda, Bulgaria, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, Korea, Republic of, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

Habitat

Canada geese make their home in grasslands, wetlands, tundra, semi-desert, marshes and wooded areas.

They have adapted to living on large areas of lawn created by humans. These are useful to the Canada goose as they provide a clear view of approaching predators.

Reproduction

Breeding takes place during spring and summer. They are typically monogamous and meet their partner during the second year of life.

The female will build most of the nest. This is built on a slightly elevated site near water and under a shrub or tree. On occasion the nest may be located on a beaver lodge. The nest is formed from dry grass, lichen, moss and other plants in a cup shape. This nest is lined with feathers.

It measures roughly 0.5m (1.5ft) across.Each pair will often return to a similar nest site each year.

In to this nest they typically deposit between four and seven eggs though on rare occasions there may be up to fifteen which are coloured white. While nesting they become incredibly aggressive towards anything entering their environment. During incubation the male undertakes the defense while the female does the incubation.

Eggs are laid at a rate of one every 1 ½ days. Incubation starts after all eggs are laid and lasts up to 30 days. Hatching may take the chicks anywhere from 8 to 36 hours.

At hatching their eyes are already open and they are covered in down. This down is olive-grey on top and yellow underneath. There is also a yellow stripe across the eye.

Within 1-2 day the chicks begin to travel with the parents and can feed themselves.

In captivity and in some places in the wild they may hybridise with graylag, snow, barnacle and pink-footed geese.

Sexual maturity is reached at 2 years old.

Behaviour

They are active during the day. Canada geese leave the water at dawn to begin grazing on the land.

Throughout late summer they will molt their feathers and during this period they are unable to fly.

Most northern populations undertake a migration to avoid the harsh of winter in these areas. They are known for the V-formation in which they fly.Their vocalizations include a range of honks and hisses.

Predators and Threats

In their native range they are preyed upon by coyotes, birds of prey such as bald eagles, bears, arctic foxes, raccoons and red foxes.

Humans target them through hunting for sport, food and to control their population in areas where they have been introduced.

Quick facts

The Canada goose is a regularly kept species of goose around the world.