Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

BirdWaterfowlMigratory

Overview

The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is a large, long-necked goose native to North America, easily identified by its black head and neck cut by a broad white chinstrap, with a brown body and pale breast.

It is the archetypal V-formation migrant. Flying in a V is generally understood as an aerodynamic strategy — birds behind gain lift from the vortices shed by the bird ahead — combined with the practical benefit of keeping the flock in visual contact.

Canada geese have also become one of the great success stories of adaptation to human landscapes, thriving on the short grass of parks, golf courses, airfields and reservoirs, and in many places no longer migrating at all.

Habitat & Range

Canada geese breed across North America from the Arctic tundra south into the temperate United States, and have been introduced to Europe, New Zealand and elsewhere. They need open water for safety and short grassland or crops for grazing, which is exactly what parks, playing fields, reservoirs and farmland provide. Several subspecies differ substantially in size and in how far they migrate.

Diet

Canada geese are grazing herbivores, feeding on grasses, sedges, aquatic vegetation, grain, roots and berries. In agricultural landscapes they feed heavily on stubble and young crops, and in urban areas on managed short grass — a resource that has helped them expand.

Behavior

Migratory populations travel in V or line formations, calling constantly in flight. Pairs are long-lasting, and both parents attend the goslings, which follow the adults and graze from an early age. Geese undergo a flightless moult in summer during which they stay close to water. They are strongly territorial around nests and young, and adults displaying at intruders — hissing with the neck lowered — are simply defending a brood.

Human Interaction & Conservation

The Canada goose is a case study in a native species becoming locally overabundant. Conservation efforts and adaptation to mown grass produced large resident, non-migratory populations in urban and suburban North America and Europe, which brings conflicts over grazing, droppings, water quality and aviation safety. Introduced populations in Europe are treated as invasive in some countries. This profile offers no wildlife-control, feeding or handling guidance — feeding wild geese is discouraged in many places. Verify current status at the IUCN Red List.

Sourced facts

Each value below is traced to the specific reference that states it. Open a row's evidence to see the source, where to look in it, and how firmly it supports the value. Sources checked 2026-10-09.

Sourced facts about the Canada Goose, with the reference supporting each
Fact	What the source states	Evidence
Geographic range	Native to Canada, the United States and Mexico; introduced (deliberately and as vagrants) to much of Europe, Australia and parts of Asia such as Japan, Korea and Russia.Canada geese generally winter in the southern part of North America.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Geographic Range Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Habitat	Near water (ponds, marshes, rivers, coastlines) at nearly all elevations, from coastal to alpine; well established in urban and suburban areas with maintained lawns.ADW says they prefer open, grassy habitats, avoid tall grass and shrubs that may hide predators, and often graze on agricultural land.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Habitat Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Diet	Mainly herbivorous: leaves, grass, seeds, berries, algae and roots. Occasionally aquatic invertebrates, insects, small fish, crustaceans and molluscs, mostly when young or breeding.They avoid plants high in secondary metabolites.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Food Habits Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Body size	Height 76 to 110 cm; wingspan 1.3 to 1.7 m.The prose calls 76 to 110 cm 'height', but the data panel labels the same span 'Range length', so which measure it is remains unclear. Males are slightly larger than females. The seven subspecies differ in size.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Physical Description Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Body mass	3 to 10.9 kg for both sexes (males slightly larger); the largest subspecies, B. c. maxima, generally weighs about 6.4 kg.ADW does not say which birds reach the 10.9 kg upper bound, given that the largest subspecies 'generally' weighs about 6.4 kg.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Physical Description Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Lifespan	Wild: life expectancy for most is 12 years (typical 10 to 24); oldest wild record 30 years and 4 months. Captivity: oldest recorded 80 years.ADW itself says the average life expectancy is difficult to determine. The 80-year captive record is extraordinary, and the text does not attribute it to a specific source.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Lifespan/Longevity Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Activity pattern	Seasonal migrants: birds that migrate spend spring on northern breeding territory and winter in a southern range; young of non-migrating pairs also stay put. No daily pattern stated.ADW states no diurnal or nocturnal pattern. Urban and suburban residents have smaller home ranges than migrants, and migrants can fly up to 2,400 km in a day. Adults moult during the breeding season and cannot fly for about a month.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Behavior Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Social structure	Monogamous, often paired for life (a surviving bird finds a new mate); pairs with goslings often join other families in groups called crèches.Crèches may stay together until the next breeding season. Juveniles stay with their parents until after the spring migration, and flocks are vocal in flight.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Reproduction Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Distinguishing traits	Long black head and neck with a distinctive white mark near the chin; brown-grey upperparts and usually a cream or white belly and rump.The seven subspecies differ in size, plumage colour, white cheek marks or a white collar. ADW notes that cackling geese were split from Canada geese in 2004.	Matches source · Animal Diversity Web — how we know Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Where Physical Description Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
Conservation status	Least Concern (LC), global assessment, 2018	Matches source · IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — how we know IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Checked by FaunaHub 2026-10-09 Limits Read from the Red List export IUCN publishes to GBIF; iucnredlist.org itself does not answer automated reads. Categories are reassessed over time.

References for the facts above

UniversityAnimal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of ZoologySupports: Range, habitat, diet, body size and mass, lifespan, activity and social structure, as the account states them. Retrieved 2026-10-09.Limitations: A peer-edited account written largely by students under faculty review. Figures are compiled from the literature rather than from a single study, and some are regional.
ReferenceIUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesSupports: The global Red List category and the year of the assessment. Retrieved 2026-10-09.Limitations: Read from the Red List export IUCN publishes to GBIF; iucnredlist.org itself does not answer automated reads. Categories are reassessed over time.

Frequently Asked Questions — Canada Goose

Why do geese fly in a V?

Mainly for aerodynamic efficiency. Each bird flies slightly behind and to the side of the one ahead, gaining lift from the vortices coming off its wingtips, which reduces the effort of flight. The formation also keeps the flock in visual contact and makes coordination easier over long distances.

Do all Canada geese migrate?

No. Many populations are strongly migratory, breeding in the far north and wintering further south, but large resident populations have established in urban and suburban areas where mown grass and open water are available year-round. Those birds may migrate very little or not at all.

What do Canada geese eat?

They are grazing herbivores: grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, grain, roots and berries. Short mown grass in parks, playing fields and golf courses is ideal for them, which is a large part of why they have done so well in human landscapes.

Why are Canada geese aggressive near their nests?

They are defending eggs or goslings. A goose that lowers its neck, hisses and advances is giving a territorial warning display during the breeding season. Keeping a respectful distance from nests and broods, and not feeding the birds, avoids most conflict.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.

UniversityAnimal Diversity Web — Branta canadensis (Canada goose) — University of Michigan species account
UniversityCornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds — Cornell University ornithology reference for bird species
Wildlife referenceNational Audubon Society — Bird Guide — Bird identification and conservation reference