Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Other references:
B38

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
• The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Earthkind
• The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

• Waterfowl Management Guidelines
• Proceedings of the Waterfowl Information Network Conference 1999
• Wetlands, Industry and Wildlife
• London Waterfowl Project FAQ's
• The Electronic Library: further reading for "Wildlife: Oil Spill Response"

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Geese
• Northern (True) Geese
• Black Geese

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Grazing Waterfowl (D1)

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Northern (True) Geese are generally hardy and easy to manage. They are usually gregarious and many species may be kept in flocks, however they tend to be territorial and aggressive in the breeding season and some may need to be maintained in separate pens. It is often possible to keep small ducks with pairs of geese, unless the individual goose pair is particularly pugnacious. They should always be provided with adequate water for swimming.
• For a single pair of geese a total pen area of 300m² (or 200m² for smaller species, e.g. Branta ruficollis - Red-breasted goose), with at least 20% of this area water is suggested, although more water should be provided if possible in a larger pen (D1).
• Geese are grazers and should have access to good short grass (less than 3 inches, 7.5cm long) for grazing. When grass is scarce, it may be supplemented with greenfood such as cabbage, lettuce etc.; alfalfa pellets have also been used for this purpose. Additional grain and pellets should be given, with a change to breeder pellets in the breeding season, at which time less or no grain may be fed. Breeding success may be decreased if these species are allowed to become too fat and this can be problematic particularly for the species which normally breed in the high Arctic.
• Goslings may be parent hatched and reared, although being mainly terrestrial they are more vulnerable to predation than are cygnets. Whether parent or hand-reared, goslings should be provided with unlimited grazing and other green food such as chopped lettuce, as well as starter crumbs.
• Geese species may hybridise with one another, but this is not usually a problem if they are well paired before being mixed with other birds.

(B7, B29, B30, B40, B94, B95, B108, B128.w1, B129, D1)

Species-specific information:

• The aggression level of Canada geese appears to vary greatly between the sub-species (D1). Larger types may be aggressive, particularly in the breeding season while defending nesting area, to geese and swans, but they usually leave ducks alone; a separate pen is suggested for nesting. (J23.13.w7).
• These geese are generally winter-hardy and easy to manage; they may be kept in a flock in sufficient space. The large forms are particularly suitable for large parks with meadows adjoining large lakes. They will usually remain at the site they are reared without being flight-restricted. Good grazing will provide most of their food, although wheat, pellets, green food and bread should also be provided.
• Most subspecies are easy or fairly easy to breed, although Todd's (Interior) and Aleutian Canada gees are more difficult. They use natural ground cover - open or close cover - for nesting; they may also use a kennel/wigwam and may nest in reeds. Hutchinson's geese prefer boxes, especially on islands. They may start laying from early March (Slimbridge, UK), although Hutchinsons' Canada geese frequently wait until May (B31). Lay March to June (Atlantic and Giant Canada geese), May to June (Aleutian Canada geese), April to June other subspecies (B29).
• These geese readily hybridise with Anser spp. and (may be fertile) with other Branta spp.; also reported to have hybridised with Cygnus atratus - Black swan, Cygnus buccinator - Trumpeter swan, Cygnus cygnus - Whooper swan, Cygnus olor - Mute swan, Cairina moschata - Muscovy duck and Alopochen aegyptiacus - Egyptian goose and possibly even with Anas platyrhynchos - Mallard.

(B29, B31, B96, B97.

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme suggested average closed ring size:

• Branta canadensis leucopareia, N 13.0mm
• Branta canadensis hutchinsii, N 13.0mm
• Branta canadensis minima, N 13.0mm
• Branta canadensis asiatica),N 13.0mm
• Branta canadensis parvipes, R 16.0mm
• Branta canadensis taverni, R 16.0mm
• Branta canadensis occidentalis, R 16.0mm
• Branta canadensis fulva, S 18.0mm
• Branta canadensis interior, S 18.0mm
• Branta canadensis moffitti, S 18.0mm
• Branta canadensis maxima, T 20.0mm
• Branta canadensis canadensis, T 20.0mm

(D8).

• Accommodation of Casualty Waterfowl
• Rearing of Birds - Artificial Rearing - Waterfowl considerations
• Catching and Handling of Waterfowl
• Feeding of Casualty Waterfowl
• Release of Casualty Waterfowl
• Population Control of Birds - General
• P12.10.w1:- The Management of Problems caused by Canada Geese - A Guide to Best Practice
• P12.11.w2:- Integrated Management of Urban Canada Geese
• See also: Oil Spill: Species Identification and Special Considerations

Measurement & Weight

Branta canadensis parvipes, Branta canadensis occidentalis, Branta canadensis taverneri average 2241-3754g.

Branta canadensis asiatica, Branta canadensis hutchinsii, Branta canadensis minima average 2005-2041g. (B3)

Branta canadensis parvipes, Branta canadensis occidentalis, Branta canadensis taverneri average 2059-3131g.

Branta canadensis asiatica, Branta canadensis hutchinsii, Branta canadensis minima average 1360-1856g (B3).

Head

Legs

Plumage

Branta canadensis canadensis Breast and abdomen pale buff/whitish, flanks buff-brown. Upperparts brown with buff feather edges giving barring. Rump and tail black, ventral area and tail-coverts white. Wing coverts brown with paler edges, flight feathers dark brown.

Some forms, the breast is much darker than in the form described, and general colouration of body also darker in some forms.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

Remain with parents until the start of the next breeding season.

Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

Migratory: move south to southern states of USA and along North American coasts; further south and west in cold winters.

Feral populations mainly sedentary.

--

London: In the London Area, a "very common breeding resident" with hundreds of birds at some sites including more than 100 at some sites in Inner London. (J322.65.w1)

Large feral, sedentary populations also in North America

Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Species as a whole abundant. Branta canadensis leucopareia population recovered due to hunting ban and removal of introduced Arctic fox (B1).

• This species is listed on Schedule 2 - Part I (Birds which may be killed or taken outside the close season, 1 February to 31 August except where indicated otherwise: Notes on the revised schedules state "NOTE: The close season for ducks and geese when below high water mark is 21 February to 31 August") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• This species is listed on Schedule 9 - Part 1 (Animals and plants to which Section 14 applies (ie. may not be released into or grown in the wild) ) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

Captive Populations

Trade