Canada Goose

Background

The descendants of introduced individuals, this goose species has now become a resident to the UK and northern Europe. The Canada Goose is the largest of the “black goose” species. Adults of this species have a long black neck with white patches on the face, and a dark brown body, which is usually paler underneath.

Habitat

These geese ranges from North America to Scandinavia. This does exclude the most northern parts of Scotland and Iceland. Preferences in habitat include coastal marshes, and fresh waters, so can be found in a number of parks, lakes and on the outskirts of woodlands.

Diet

Like most geese, the Canada Goose is a herbivore, eating plant matter like roots, seeds, leaves and various grasses.

Predators & Threats

Canada geese have a very high mortality rate within the first few years of their life. This is primarily due to the predation from foxes, raccoons, and a number of different bird species. Adults of the species see a much lower predation rate.

Facts

• There are 11 subspecies of the Canada Goose.
• Rather than choosing the strongest mates, this species chooses individuals that are closer to their size. This is called “assortative mating”.

Best Time to Look

All year round