Photo: Roy Lowe/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Cackling Goose
Branta hutchinsii
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 2.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Branta
- Species hutchinsii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.8 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cackling Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Cackling Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA ne Russia to n Canada.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.8 kg, with a wing length of about 39.6 cm and a tail of around 12.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cackling Goose?
The Cackling Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 2.8 kg.
Where does the Cackling Goose live?
The Cackling Goose is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA ne Russia to n Canada, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Cackling Goose belong to?
The Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Cackling Goose eat?
The Cackling Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Cackling Goose migrate?
The Cackling Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Cackling Goose endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Cackling Goose make?
4 real field recordings of the Cackling Goose — including its call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Cackling Goose's range?
The Cackling Goose has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Cackling Goose vs Canada Goose: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Cackling Goose from a Canada Goose — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.