Canada Goose

(Branta canadensis)

Conservation Status
Canada Goose
 
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB, SNRN, SNRM - Unranked Breeding, Unranked Nonbreeding, Unranked Migrant

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

25 to 45in length

42 to 60wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Lakeshores, river banks, ponds, city parks

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

March to November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Abundant migrant and breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Anseriformes (waterfowl)  
 

Family

Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans)  
  Subfamily Anserinae (true geese and swans)  
 

Genus

Branta (black geese)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Atlantic Canada Goose (Branta canadensis canadensis)

Interior Canada Goose (Branta canadensis interior)

Giant Canada Goose (Branta canadensis maxima)

Moffitt’s Canada Goose (Branta canadensis moffitti)

Vancouver Canada Goose (Branta canadensis fulva)

Dusky Canada Goose (Branta canadensis occidentalis)

Lesser Canada Goose (Branta canadensis parvipes)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Anas canadensis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
 

Here is what I came across last evening.

They were on that mound next to the pond I was to the West of them and the distant background is part of that Slininger Prairie/ WPA....

The adult geese crouched real low to the ground once they seen me with necks straight out. Guessing they were hoping I wouldn’t notice them. The little geese are really cute.

  Canada Goose  
           
 

Northern Tallgrass Prairie Geese and Pond...

I was down wind with the sun to my back and worked my way slowly to the pond photographing and filming the geese at times. They were aware of me but their attention wandered off toward other things.

  Canada Goose  
           
        Canada Goose  
           
 

Canada Geese, possibly a couple Cackling geese mixed in and a Mallard duck or two... pair of Trumpeter swans...

  Canada Goose  
           
 

Canada geese and White as Snow Trumpeter Swans...

  Canada Goose  
 

Ramona Abrego

 
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
 

Margot Avey

 
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
    Canada Goose      
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
    Canada Goose      
           
 

A spring trek into Wild River SP can be exhilarating

 
    Canada Goose      
 

Tom Baker

 
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Adult

 
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
    Canada Goose      
           
 

Alert Posture

 
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
 

Dabbling

 
    Canada Goose      
           
 

Juvenile

 
    Canada Goose   Canada Goose  
           
 

Nest

 
    Canada Goose      

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Canada Goose
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Canada Goose  
  Canada Goose
Joshua Mayer
 
  Canada Goose  
 
About

Branta canadensis

 
  Geese
Craig A. Mullenbach
 
  Geese  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this bird.

 
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Avi Birds

 
  Canada Goose [Branta Canadensis]
Sep 8, 2021
 
   
 
About

In this video, we learn about the Canada goose.

   
 

Dan W. Andree

 
  A pair of Canada Geese Spring 2016.
Published on Aug 11, 2016
 
   
 
About

A quick look at a pair of Canada Geese, nest and eggs along the Wild Rice river in Mn.

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Canada Goose - Branta canadensis - YouTube
JCVdude
 
   
 
About

Published on May 23, 2012

The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is a wild goose with a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body. Native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, it is occasionally found in northern Europe, and has been introduced to other temperate regions.

That's from Wiki. Now from me, it was so beautiful to see the Canada Geese families together, it's getting rare now days, even in Canada. In Kelowna they control the geese population by finding nests and shaking the eggs up so they don't hatch. Apparently to much goose poop on beaches and 'swimmers itch' in the water. I moved to Kelowna prior to these measures to save us from the mighty geese menace and our kids swam in the lake, we went to the beach all the while there were geese around. We were careful where we put our beach blanket and it wasn't all that bad. Sad that today the answer is reduce the population or eliminate them all together. music is by 01 - Alex Alexandroff - I believe

 
  Geese Fly Together
National Geographic
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Sep 15, 2009

Canada geese take to the skies along their annual migration paths.

 
  Canada Goose - HD Mini-Documentary
James Knott
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Feb 14, 2009

The Canada Goose, also called the Canadian Goose, is the most plentiful waterfowl in North America.

 
  canadian goose sounds
Ani Male
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 7, 2011

Sounds of Canada Geese

 
  Canadian Geese
girenzabi
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Apr 19, 2008

A flock of Canadian Geese take a break from flying and relax in a Minnesota pond.

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Dan W. Andree
5/1/2021

Location: Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Pavia Unit

Here is what I came across last evening. They were on that mound next to the pond I was to the West of them and the distant background is part of that Slininger Prairie/ WPA....

The adult geese crouched real low to the ground once they seen me with necks straight out. Guessing they were hoping I wouldn’t notice them. The little geese are really cute.

Canada Goose

 
  Dan W. Andree
3/14/2021

Location: Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Pavia Unit

I was down wind with the sun to my back and worked my way slowly to the pond photographing and filming the geese at times. They were aware of me but their attention wandered off toward other things.

Canada Goose

 
  Ramona Abrego
5/26/2019

Location: Becker County

Canada Goose

 
  Margot Avey
4/18/2019

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Canada Goose

 
  Margot Avey
4/16/2019

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center, St Louis Park, MN

Canada Goose

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/20/2018

Location: Maplewood Nature Center

Canada Goose

 
  Dan W. Andree
4/1/2018

Location: Rural Norman co. Mn.

Canada Geese, possibly a couple Cackling geese mixed in and a Mallard duck or two... pair of Trumpeter swans...

Canada Goose

 
  Dan W. Andree
3/30/2018

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

Canada Goose

 
  Wayne Rasmussen
4/27/2005

Location: Wild River State Park

A spring trek into Wild River SP can be exhilarating

Canada Goose

 
  Tom Baker
5/1/2011

 

Canada Goose

 
  Tom Baker
4/9/2011

 

Canada Goose

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Afton State Park

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Brownsville Bluff SNA

Bur Oak WMA

Cannon River Turtle Preserve SNA

Cannon River Wilderness Area

Carver Park Reserve

Chamberlain Woods SNA

Cleary Lake Regional Park

Clifton E. French Regional Park

Clinton Falls Dwarf Trout Lily SNA

Cottonwood River Prairie SNA

Day Park and Earley Lake Trail

Des Moines River SNA

Dodge Nature Center

Edward Velishek Memorial WMA

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Felton Prairie SNA, Bicentennial Unit

Fort Snelling State Park

Frontenac State Park

Glacial Lakes Preserve

Glacial Lakes State Park

Gneiss Outcrops SNA

Grey Cloud Dunes SNA

Hampton Woods WMA

Hastings SNA

Kasota Prairie

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Keller Regional Park

Kilen Woods State Park

Lake Carlos State Park

Lake Elmo Park Reserve

Lake Louise State Park

Lake Maria State Park

Lake Rebecca Park

Lake Rebecca Park Reserve

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Maplewood Heights Park

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Minnesota Valley NWR, Black Dog Unit

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Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve

Myre-Big Island State Park

Neal WMA

Ney Nature Center

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Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Pembina Trail Unit

Pine Bend Bluffs SNA

Point Douglas Park

Rice Lake State Park

Rieck’s Lake Park and Campground (Alma, Wisconsin)

Ritter Farm Park

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William O’Brien State Park

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Wood-Rill SNA

Woodland Trails Park

Yellow Bank Hills SNA

Zumbro Falls Woods SNA

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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