The Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) is a species of goose native to North America. It was originally considered to be the same species or a subspecies of the Canada goose. Cackling geese fly in large flocks in V-shaped formation and their calls overhead always signal the transitions into spring and fall.
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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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GraminivoreIn zoology, a graminivore (not to be confused with a granivore) is an herbivorous animal that feeds primarily on grass. Graminivory is a form of g...
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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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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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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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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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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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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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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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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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starts withThe Cackling goose can be distinguished from all other geese except the larger Canada goose and the similarly sized Barnacle goose by having a black head and neck with white "chinstrap". There are up to 5 subspecies of Cackling goose which vary in size and plumage. The female Cackling goose looks virtually identical but is slightly lighter and has a different voice. The Barnacle goose differs in having a black breast and grey, rather than brownish, body plumage.
Cackling geese breed in northern Canada and Alaska in a variety of tundra habitats. They are migratory; their wintering range is most of the U.S., and locally in western Canada and northern Mexico. Cackling geese typically forage in meadows, agricultural fields, both freshwater and salt marshes and mudflats. At night they sleep on lakes and reservoirs.
Outside of the breeding season, Cackling geese are social. They forage, roost, and migrate in large flocks. They are active during the daylight hours. They forage by walking slowly pulling at the plant. When feeding in water, they submerge their heads and necks to reach aquatic plants, sometimes tipping forward like a dabbling duck. Flocks of these birds often feed on leftover cultivated grains in fields, especially during migration or in winter.
Cackling geese are mainly herbivores (folivores, graminivores) and feed on a wide variety of plant material. However, they also supplement their diet with some insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
Cackling geese are monogamous and mate for life. Pairs are usually formed during spring migration and may nest solitarily or in colonies. The female selects a nest site, usually in an elevated area near water. The eggs are laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. During this time both partners can be very aggressive and defend the nesting territory. The female lays 2-8 eggs and incubation takes 25-28 days. The goslings are precocial when they hatch. They are covered in down and their eyes are opened. They can walk and feed within 24 hours of hatching. Both parents take care of their young. They are often seen leading their goslings in a line with one parent at the front, and the other at the back of the "parade". The young usually stay with their parents for 12 months or sometimes longer. They start to breed at the age of 2 or 3 years.
By the early 20th century, overhunting and loss of habitat in the late 19th and early 20th centuries had resulted in a serious decline in the numbers of Cackling geese in their native range. These birds are still hunted and suffer from the loss of their habitat, the use of pesticides, pollution, and changes in climate.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Clacking goose is 4,500,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...