Bird guideCanada Goose

Canada geese were eliminated in Ohio following the American Civil War but were reintroduced in 1956 with 10 pairs.

⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityRare
HabitatOccurs in any open or wetland habitat, from city parks and golf courses to pristine marshes and Arctic tundra.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from March.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Marc Anderson

Range map

Range map

16visible hotspots
48visible records
3states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Overall size, bill size, and brown coloration variable across subspecies. Occurs in any open or wetland habitat, from city parks and golf courses to pristine marshes and Arctic tundra. Canada Goose is almost always larger, longer-necked, and longer-billed than Cackling, although beware there is some overlap between the smallest Canada and largest Cackling. Abundant and widespread throughout the U. S. and Canada; rare in Mexico. Introduced and widely established in Europe. Listen for loud honking calls, especially as flocks migrate overhead in the classic V formation.

Behavior

Typically in flocks or family groups. Often seen in mixed flocks with Cackling Goose, especially in central and western North America.

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