Canada Goose Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCanada Goose
Adult
Large with a long black neck and white cheek patch. Body brown with paler chest and white undertail. Legs and feet black.
© Max McCarthy / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 24, 2017Adult (occidentalis/fulva)
Evenly dark brown body with limited contrast with the black neck.
© Liam Singh / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, November 05, 2016Adult
When alert sits with neck stretched up straight.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, April 12, 2015Adult
In flight shows a prominent white "U" on the dark uppertail, contrasting with the black tail.
© Brian Collins / Macaulay LibraryWisconsin, February 18, 2017Juvenile
Chicks are fluffy and yellowish, with black legs and bill.
© Jason B Bidgood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 25, 2017Adult
Often found near human habitation, and can be aggressive when threatened.
© Esme Rosen / Macaulay LibraryNevada, February 11, 2017Adult
Sometimes nests on raised platforms or in trees.
© Kent McFarland / Macaulay LibraryVermont, May 07, 2012Adult
Often found in large flocks on a variety of water bodies.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, March 25, 2017Similar SpeciesCackling Goose
Adult (Aleutian)
Cackling Geese are smaller with a smaller bill and a shorter neck than Canada Goose. Cackling Geese also have a blockier head and steeper forehead than Canada Geese.
© Matt Brady / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 04, 2010Similar SpeciesCackling Goose
Adult (minima)
Cackling Geese tend to be smaller overall than Canada Geese with a smaller bill and shorter neck, but there is some overlap as some Canada Geese can be quite small. Some Cackling Geese have a darker breast as shown here.
© Rob O'Donnell / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 23, 2017Similar SpeciesCackling Goose
Adult (Richardson's)
Cackling Geese have a smaller bill and shorter neck than Canada Geese, but beware of smaller bodied Canada Geese and Canada Geese with the their necks drawn in giving them a short-necked appearance.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 30, 2016Similar SpeciesBrant
Adult (Atlantic)
Brant lack the white chin strap of Canada Goose and have smaller bill.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, March 24, 2017Similar SpeciesGreater White-fronted Goose
Adult
Greater White-fronted Geese have a brown (not black) neck, a pink (not black) bill, and orange (not black) legs.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 13, 2010Similar SpeciesSnow Goose
Adult blue morph
Blue morph Snow Geese have a white (not black) neck and pink (not black) legs.
© Simon Boivin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 07, 2017Search species and articles
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