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Emperor Goose

Chen canagicaOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

Emperor Goose Portrait
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General

Emperor Goose: Small goose with slate-gray plumage subtly barred white and black. Head and hindneck are white while foreneck is dark. Bill is short and pink. Tail is white with black undertail coverts. Legs are bright yellow-orange. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has dark head, neck, bill, and legs.

Range and Habitat

Emperor Goose: Breeds on islands and marshy coasts of western Alaska and winters mainly in the Aleutian Islands east to Kodiak Island. Preferred habitats include coasts, mudflats, and coastal tundra.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"kla-ga-kla-ga-kla-ga", "u-lugh-u-lugh"

Interesting Facts

 The Emperor Goose population declined from an estimated 139,000 in 1964 to 42,000 in 1986. The causes of this decline are not well understood. Currently, the population seems to be on the rise in Alaska.

 The 2000 population survey was 62,600 geese, which was 38% higher than the previous year's estimate.

 A group of geese has many collective nouns, including a "blizzard", "chevron", "knot", "plump", and "string" of geese.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Emperor Goose
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family Geese (Anatidae)_blue
Species Chen canagica
Length26 - 28 Inches
Wingspan52 Inches

Emperor Goose

Emperor Goose: Small goose with slate-gray plumage subtly barred white and black. Head, hindneck are white while foreneck is dark. Short, pink bill. Tail is white with black undertail coverts. Legs are bright yellow-orange. Feeds on plants, crustaceans, mollusks. Direct flight with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "kla-ga-kla-ga-kla-ga", "u-lugh-u-lugh"

● Foraging & Feeding: Emperor Goose: Feeds on seaweed, eelgrass, sea lettuce, algae, beach rye, beach pea, sea beach sandwort, grass and sedges, crowberries, mollusks, and crustaceans; forages in salt marshes and tundra meadows.

● Breeding & nesting: Emperor Goose: Three to eight creamy white eggs are laid in a down-lined ground nest built on an islet in marshy tundra or among driftwood on the coast. Incubation ranges from 14 to 27 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Emperor Goose: Blue phase Snow Goose has entirely white foreneck and chin; also has pink legs and feet.

Flight Pattern

Heavy direct flight with strong wing beats.
Emperor Goose Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Emperor Goose: Breeds on islands and marshy coasts of western Alaska and winters mainly in the Aleutian Islands east to Kodiak Island. Preferred habitats include coasts, mudflats, and coastal tundra.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationDeclining, Yes but uncommon
MigrationMigratory
Weight96 Ounces