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Photo: Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from Anchorage, United States / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

The Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 2.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Anseriformes
  3. Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
  4. Genus Anser
  5. Species canagicus

Where it lives

Western Alaska and northeastern Siberia

Quick facts

Weight
2.1 kg
Diet
Omnivores
Family
Anatidae
Order
Anseriformes

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Emperor Goose is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Emperor Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL w Alaska and ne Siberia.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.1 kg, with a wing length of about 37.4 cm and a tail of around 10.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 187,000 km².

Songs & calls

Recorded by Bill Pyle Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Emperor Goose — Flight call

Recorded by Jens Kirkeby Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Emperor Goose — Wing noise

Recorded by Andrew Spencer Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Emperor Goose — Call

Recorded by Andrew Spencer Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

All Emperor Goose sounds, grouped by type →

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Emperor Goose?

The Emperor Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 2.1 kg.

Where does the Emperor Goose live?

The Emperor Goose is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL w Alaska and ne Siberia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Emperor Goose belong to?

The Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Emperor Goose eat?

The Emperor Goose is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Emperor Goose migrate?

The Emperor Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Emperor 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 Emperor Goose make?

4 real field recordings of the Emperor 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 Emperor Goose's range?

The Emperor Goose has a mapped global range of about 187,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

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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