Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

This is a native of North America with many different races. In Britain, there has been a steady increase since their introduction 300 years ago.

They are big geese, with black necks and a white throat patch, and in North America they migrate as far South as Mexico. In Britain they perform a moult migration North to Beauly Firth from the Midlands breeding areas. They are able to colonise any ponds or lakes and have no real competitors in Britain.

There have been ringing recoveries indicating that native American birds sometimes come to Britain and we even have one going back! These birds are often with Greenland Whitefronts. Breeding birds are also established in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The British and Irish population is estimated at about 75.000 individuals

Big 'black' geese from North America now well established in Britain.

Length	950 mm
Closed wing	520 mm
Weight	4600 gms

A Bird On! Sketch by Chris Mead
Copyright © 1996 by Jacobi Jayne & Company and Chris Mead