Cackling Goose

À propos

A small version of the Canada Goose with a stubby bill, rounded head, and shorter neck. Long treated as a subspecies; now recognized as a separate species with four subspecies. Migrates from Arctic breeding grounds to wintering areas in the central United States. Gregarious; mixes with Canada Geese in winter.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	79,3 cm	31.2 in
Poids	1801,8 g	63.56 oz

Identification

Plumage

Resembles miniature Canada Goose; black head and neck with white chin strap. Brown-gray back; pale underparts. White undertail. Short neck and stubby bill distinguish from Canada Goose. Sexes similar.

Habitat & Range

Breeds on low-lying Arctic and subarctic tundra. Winters on grasslands, agricultural fields, and coastal marshes in the central and western United States. Often found in mixed flocks with Canada Geese.

🌿 Wetland 🌾 Grassland

Répartition géographique

Breeds in Arctic Canada; winters on the Atlantic coast from New England to Florida, occasionally to the Bahamas and Gulf Coast.

Diet & Feeding

Grazes aquatic vegetation and sedges in Northern Hemisphere wetlands; migratory; winter diet of eelgrass and coastal saltmarsh plants.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 25-27 days. Fledging: 42-49 days.

Taille de la couvée

3-6

Son

Chant

A high-pitched, yelping 'luk-luk' or 'likl-likl' — higher-pitched and smaller-sounding than Canada Goose. Given rapidly in flock flight. Useful identification feature.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Famille	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Branta
Espèces	Branta hutchinsii

Distribution

Cackling Goose has been recorded in 10 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇺🇸 United States 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇸🇪 Sweden

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Cackling Goose eat?

Grazes aquatic vegetation and sedges in Northern Hemisphere wetlands; migratory; winter diet of eelgrass and coastal saltmarsh plants.

Where does the Cackling Goose live?

Breeds on low-lying Arctic and subarctic tundra. Winters on grasslands, agricultural fields, and coastal marshes in the central and western United States. Often found in mixed flocks with Canada Geese.

Is the Cackling Goose endangered?

The Cackling Goose has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Cackling Goose nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 25-27 days. Fledging: 42-49 days.

What does the Cackling Goose sound like?

A high-pitched, yelping 'luk-luk' or 'likl-likl' — higher-pitched and smaller-sounding than Canada Goose. Given rapidly in flock flight. Useful identification feature.

How big is the Cackling Goose?

The Cackling Goose has a wingspan of 79.3 cm, weight of 1801.8 g.

What order and family does the Cackling Goose belong to?

The Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.