Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsiiOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)

Breeding Location:

Tundra, Rocky cliffs, Ponds, Streams



Breeding Type:

Monogamous



Breeding Population:

Common to abundant



Egg Color:

White, nest stained.



Number of Eggs:

2 - 8



Incubation Days:

25 - 30



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Sticks, grass, weeds, and moss lined with down.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

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.

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.

Breeding and 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.

Foraging and 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.

Readily Eats

Vocalization

Cackling Goose: Call is a loud honking or a hig-pitched, squeaking cackle.

Similar Species

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

.

All contents © Copyright 2003-2005 Mitch Waite Group. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group. Privacy Policy

Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The Percevia field guides, database and search protocol patent pending.

The best bird guide and bird watching search engine to identify birds!

Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Family Geese (Anatidae)_blue
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