Pl. XXVIII


The Birds · Plate XXVIII
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Anatidae · Taxon 7089
| Length | 76–110 cm (29.9–43.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 127–170 cm (50.0–66.9 in) |
| Weight | 3.0–9.0 kg (105.8–317.5 oz) |
Field marks
- Large, long-necked goose with a substantial, rounded body
- Black head and long black neck
- Bold white cheek patches meeting beneath the chin as a white chinstrap
- Brown back and wings with a paler tan-gray breast
- Wide, flat black bill; black legs and large webbed feet
- In flight, a white U-shaped rump/uppertail patch contrasts with the dark tail
HabitatA wide variety of habitats near water, including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, shorelines, and wetlands; also grazes in open grasslands, fields, and short lawns.
BehaviorGrazes on land and dabbles or reaches into shallow water for vegetation; commonly travels in pairs or flocks and often flies in V-shaped formations.
Palette
blackwhitebrowntan-graypale yellow-green