Cackling Goose

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.

INTERESTING FACTS

Down to less than 500 birds in the 1970s, the Aleutian Cackling goose is a success story in waterfowl management. Presently, population estimates based on observations of neck-banded Aleutian Cackling geese during winter 2006-07 was 118,700, 13% greater than the previous year. Due to their smaller size, Cackling Geese (especially B.h. minima) display a faster wing beat than Canada Geese and their wings appear longer proportionally to their body size in flight. The smallest form of the Cackling Goose is only a quarter the size of the "Giant Canada Goose" subspecies. A group of geese has many collective nouns, including a "blizzard", "chevron", "knot", "plump", and "string" of geese.