The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is a large wild goose native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America. Like most geese, the Canada goose is primarily herbivorous and normally migratory; often found on or close to fresh water. These birds are extremely adept at living in human-altered areas and have established breeding colonies in urban and cultivated habitats, which provide food and few natural predators. The success of this common park species has led to its often being considered a pest species because of its excrement, its depredation of crops, its noise, its aggressive territorial behavior toward both humans and other animals, and its habit of stalking and begging for food, the latter a result of humans disobeying artificial feeding policies toward wild animals.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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AlgivoreAn algivore is a common name for many bottom-dwelling or algae-eating species that feed on algae.
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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WaterfowlWaterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans. They ...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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ColonialColonial animals live in large aggregations composed of two or more conspecific individuals in close association with or connected to, one another....
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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Canada Province BirdsCanada geese have a white mark on their beak, near their chin. Another distinctive feature of these birds is a white U-like band on their rump. The male of a breeding pair is usually bigger. The feet, legs, and beak of Canada geese are black. They have a blackish-brown tail and blackish rump. The back and scapulars are darker brown. The breast, abdomen, and flanks vary from light gray to dark chocolate brown in color, either being mixed with a black neck or separated from it by a white ring.
The Canada goose is a native North American species, being also introduced to the UK, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. These animals can be found at different elevations from alpine to coastal regions. The habitat of Canada geese is open areas with short grass. As a general rule, these animals avoid areas with obstructions such as tall grass, to be able to watch for predators. They live near water bodies such as coastlines, rivers, marshes, or ponds. They can also be frequently found in agricultural or urban areas. They breed in Canada and the northern United States while their migration reaches as far as northern Europe.
They are diurnal, being active during the day. The geese spend a lot of time grazing and foraging. Canada geese forage for food on land as well as in the water. The geese are very social animals, forming large nesting colonies meanwhile making the nests at a certain distance from each other. Pair of nesting geese can either choose to live solitary or to use the same breeding area as other pairs do. During the breeding season, Canada geese form long-term pairs. During this period, males aggressively defend the nesting site and the goslings, not allowing humans and other animals to approach it. In the autumn, these birds congregate into large flocks, consisting of family groups, to migrate southward to their wintering grounds.
Canada geese are herbivores (folivores, granivores and algivores). Their usual diet includes grass, leaves, roots, seeds, berries, and algae. During the periods when nutrients are needed such as breeding season or rearing of the chicks, Canada goose can also consume mollusks, small fish, aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and insects.
Canada geese are monogamous, mating once in a lifetime, usually during the second year of their lives. Normally, the breeding season takes place in April-May, sometimes extending into June in areas with a colder climate. When the nesting site is chosen, the female builds the nest and lays 4-7 eggs whereas the male stands guard. Then the female incubates the eggs for about 28 days. As soon as hatched out, the chicks are able to feed, walk, swim and dive. They leave the nest in 1-2 days but stay with their parents for the first year of their lives. The parents help the young to find food, leading the chicks to feeding areas. Depending on the subspecies, chicks of Canada goose are able to fly within 7-9 weeks after hatching out.
The major threats to Canada goose population include toxic pesticides and lead poisoning due to swallowing lead shots. Another serious threat is oil and gas exploration in the Arctic regions where these birds breed. On the other hand, they are threatened with habitat loss because of urban and infrastructure development. Although they are hunted for food and sport around North America, this doesn’t affect the overall population of Canada goose.
The global population is estimated between 5.000.000 and 6.200.000 individuals. The European population is estimated at 1.000-5.000 breeding pairs, which equates to 2.000-10.000 mature individuals. According to the estimate of the year 2000, the population of Canada goose is around 4-5 million individuals only in North America. In the IUCN Red List, Canada goose is classified as a species of Least Concern (LC) with increasing population.
These birds are prey species for predators of their habitat. Also, they serve as seed dispersers due to feeding on a wide variety of plants.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...