Canada goose
Branta canadensis
Identification Tips:
- Length: 16-25 inches Wingspan: 50-68 inches
- Sexes similar
- Large long-necked goose
- Black bill
- Black head and neck
- White throat patch extends up to cheek
- Brown back, upper wing and flanks
- Brownish-white breast and belly
- White upper tail coverts contrast with black tail
- White undertail coverts
- Great size variation, with some northern subspecies duck-sized
- Immature similar to adult
Similar species:
Similar only to Brant, which has a black breast, white flanks
and a small white neck patch rather than a large white throat and
cheek patch.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.