Small and compact with a short neck, small bill, and steep forehead. Head and neck are black with a large white cheek patch. Some, including most adult Aleutian birds (subspecies leucopareia), have a white collar at the base of the black neck sock.
Head shape ranges from rounded to boxy, but the small, triangular bill and short neck are constants. Also note the neatly barred upperparts.
Small goose best identified by head shape: note short bill and fairly abrupt transition to steep forehead.
The smallest subspecies minima is tiny (roughly the size of a male Mallard) and shows a dark breast.
In flight shows a prominent white "U" on the dark uppertail, contrasting with the black tail. Otherwise mostly brown with black neck and head, with a white cheek.
Often flocks with Canada Goose (right). Note Cackling's shorter bill with more abrupt transition to steep forehead.
Often occurs in large flocks, and forages in grassy habitats. The smallest subspecies, minima, is notably dark-breasted.
Often flocks with other species of geese. In comparison to Snow Goose, smaller and shorter-billed.
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A compact, small goose, with short neck, rounded crown, rather long wings, and short legs. The small bill is short and meets the forehead at a steep angle.
Slightly larger than a Brant, smaller than most Canada Geese.
goose-sized or largerFour subspecies differ in size, structure, and plumage. The smallest and darkest subspecies, minima, breeds in western Alaska and winters in Oregon and California. The next smallest subspecies, leucopareia, breeds in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and winters in central California. It is paler than minima, with a more distinctive white collar where the black neck meets the brown body. Subspecies hutchinsii, also called Richardson’s Goose, breeds mainly in central and eastern arctic Canada and winters in the southern Great Plains, with small numbers found in eastern North America as well. This subspecies is paler still and usually lacks the white collar entirely. The largest subspecies, taverneri, is often called Taverner’s Goose. It breeds from northeastern Alaska into Canada and winters in the southwestern U.S. This subspecies has a bit longer bill, on average, and is very similar to the smallest subspecies of Canada Goose (Lesser Canada Goose, subspecies parvipes). This close similarity—and the hybridization of Cackling and Canada Geese in some areas—justify using caution in identification of intermediate individuals, and “Canada/Cackling Goose” is often the best way to record these.
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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