Canada Goose – Info and Hunting

Description: Both male and female Canada geese have the characteristic black head and neck, with white patches on the sides of their heads that run from their throat to the back of their eyes. Females are noticeably smaller than their male counterparts. Their chest, stomach, and sides will be gray or brown and will fade into the black neck or be distinguished by a white ring around their neck. The back and main parts of their wings are dark brown and their hind end is dark brown or black. The bill, legs, and fee are all completely black. There are seven subspecies of Canada geese and most of them are smaller and more pale in coloration.

The subspecies names of Canada geese are Hudson Bay, Giant, Atlantic, Great Basin, Dusky, Lesser, and finally the Vancouver. The further north the subspecies nests, generally the smaller the size and also the lighter the plumage. The further west geese are found, generally the darker the coloration. The Giant Canada goose is the largest goose species on the planet and can reach upwards of 20lbs in weight. They can also live for many, many years and some Giant Canada geese can live longer than 30 years.

Breeding: Canada geese will generally nest over a wide area of inland North America and in some areas further south than other goose species. Canada geese will show many signs of a close-nit family between mates and will actually return to the same general area where they were hatched to breed. The female Canada goose will lay anywhere from 2-8 eggs.

Migrating and Wintering: Canada geese eat only vegetation matter, things like grasses, grains, berries, nuts, and seeds make up a large part of their diet. They are particularly attracted to areas near agriculture where there is plenty of extra grain/feed available. You can find them living in salt-water, brackish, or freshwater estuaries with lots of tall grasses growing nearby.

Population: Generally speaking, the populations of Canada geese are at healthier levels now than in previous years. In the early 1900′s the Giant Canada goose was nearly decimated, yet populations have rebounded to the point that they are pests in some areas. The Dusky Canada goose population has not enjoyed the same positive population numbers as the Giant Canada goose having numbers estimated at about 10,000 total. The other subspecies all show decent population numbers all over their natural nesting and migration territories.

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