Cackling Goose
From WikiBird
Contents |
Size
Length: ??cm (??in), Wingspan: ??cm (??in)
Field Marks
Black head and neck with white chinstrap. Female: virtually identical but is slightly lighter and has a different voice.
Similar species
The black head and neck with white "chinstrap" distinguish this goose from all except the larger Canada Goose and the similarly-sized Barnacle Goose. There are up to 5 subspecies of Cackling Goose, of varying sizes and plumage details. Some are hard to distinguish from the Canada Goose. The Barnacle Goose differs in having a black breast and grey, rather than brownish, body plumage.
Sounds
Feeding & Behavior
Feed mainly on plant material. When feeding in water, they submerge their heads and necks to reach aquatic plants, sometimes tipping forward like a dabbling duck. Flocks of these birds often feed on leftover cultivated grains in fields, especially during migration or in winter. They also eat some insects, molluscs and crustaceans.
Habitat & Nesting
the nest is usually located in an elevated area near water. The eggs are laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. Males can be very aggressive in defending territory. A pair may mate for life (up to around 20 years).
Range
Breeds in northern Canada and Alaska in a variety of tundra habitats. Wintering range being most of the U.S.A., and locally in western Canada and northern Mexico. Cackling Geese are also found naturally on occasions in the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Siberia, eastern China, and throughout Japan.
Resources
