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Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsiiOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

Cackling Goose Portrait_2
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Related Birds

Canada Goose
Nene Goose

General

Cackling Goose: Formerly part of the Canada Goose family, this smaller goose with a rounder head has dark gray-brown upperparts and paler underparts grading to white on vent. Head and neck are black with white chin bar. Of the four races the "leucopareia" and "hutchinsii" (shown here) have a white band at the bottom of the black neck. The smaller, darker "minima" and larger, paler "taverneri" lack this white band. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Cackling Goose: Native to North America. Breeds in northern Canada and western Alaska to Baffin Island, southward to central Yukon in a variety of tundra habitats. Winters from British Columbia south to California, northern Mexico and western Louisiana.

Voice Text

"honk, honk, honk"

Interesting Facts

  • The smallest form of the Cackling Goose is only a quarter the size of the "Giant Canada Goose" subspecies.
  • Due to their smaller size, Cackling Geese (especially B.h. minima) display a faster wing beat than Canada Geese and their wings appear longer proportionally to their body size in flight.
  • Down to less than 500 birds in the 1970s, the Aleutian Cackling goose is a success story in waterfowl management. Presently, population estimates based on observations of neck-banded Aleutian Cackling geese during winter 2006-07 was 118,700, 13% greater than the previous year.
  • A group of geese has many collective nouns, including a "blizzard", "chevron", "knot", "plump", and "string" of geese.


Author

Jane Wright Splitbar
Range Map for Cackling Goose
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Family
Species Branta hutchinsii
Length22 - 30 Inches
Wingspan45 Inches

Cackling Goose

Cackling Goose: Formerly included in the Canada Goose family, this species is smaller with a rounder head and shorter neck and bill. There are four subspecies, we show the hutchinsii that has darker upperparts and a white neck ring. Winters from the southern Great Plains to the western Gulf Coast.

● Song: "honk, honk, honk"

● Foraging & Feeding: Cackling Goose: Eats a variety of grasses when foraging; also feeds on agricultural crops such as wheat, beans, rice, and corn. Sometimes tips like puddle ducks when feeding on aquatic plants such as wild celery, sea lettuce, and sago pondweed.

● Breeding & nesting: Cackling Goose: Two to eight white, nest-stained eggs are laid in a nest built near water by the female of sticks, grass, weeds, and moss lined with down. Sometimes on rocky clifs. Incubated by the female for 25-30 days.

● Similar species: Cackling Goose: Canada Goose is larger, head is larger, sloped, and bill is longer.

Flight Pattern

Strong deep wing beats.
Cackling Goose Body Illustration_2
● Range & Habitat: Cackling Goose: Native to North America. Breeds in northern Canada and western Alaska to Baffin Island, southward to central Yukon in a variety of tundra habitats. Winters from British Columbia south to California, northern Mexico and western Louisiana.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCommon to abundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight33.54 - 105.9 Ounces