Photo: JackyM59 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is a member of the Anatidae family found in 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 canadensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.8 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike in plumage; females average roughly 10% smaller.
Juvenile appearance
Goslings are yellowish/olive down; juveniles resemble adults but with a duller, less crisply defined black-and-white head pattern.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Canada 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 Canada Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.8 kg, with a wing length of about 42.3 cm and a tail of around 12.2 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 12.2 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Canada Goose?
The Canada Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 2.8 kg.
Where does the Canada Goose live?
The Canada Goose is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Canada Goose belong to?
The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Canada Goose eat?
The Canada Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Canada Goose migrate?
The Canada Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Canada 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 Canada Goose make?
5 real field recordings of the Canada 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 Canada Goose's range?
The Canada Goose has a mapped global range of about 12.2 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.