Canada Goose

Canada Goose, or as its Latin name, Branta Canadensis (Branta meaning large goose, and Canadensis meaning from Canada) is a fairly common bird in the northern part of America. Canada geese are somewhat between 29.9 to 43.3 inches in length, weigh about 6.5 to 20 lbs, and their wingspan is somewhere around 50.0 to 66.9 inches. Their appearances seem to not have a difference between female and male. They all have long neck, large body, large webbed feet and a wide, flat bill. Their feather colors are relatively the same; black head with white cheeks and chinstrap, black neck, tan breast and a brown back. Canada Geese have many habitats near water, grassy fields, and grain fields. They are particularly drawn to wide open lawns for two reasons, they can digest grass, and when they are feeding with their young, manicured lawns give them a wide, unobstructed view of any approaching predators. Because of this, they tend to make a home in parks, airports, golf courses, and other areas with expansive lawns. As for food, during the spring and summer, they feed on grasses and sedges. During the fall and winter, they eat more berries and seeds (one of their favorite foods are blueberries!) Because of climate change affecting the weather in the U.S., Canada geese tend to not migrate as often as they used to. But when the occasion rises, they will migrate more down south of the U.S. for food and shelter (and to stay warm, of course!) And as of right now, and probably a long time, Canada geese are of the least concern. Even though roughly 2.6 million geese are hunted, it still doesn't affect their large population of 5.6 million (as of 2015.)