Cackling Goose
Branta hutchinsii
Also known as: Hutchins's Canada Goose
Habitat
Ground
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
2.8 kg
About This Species
A compact goose that grazes on grasses, grain stubble and short vegetation in open fields, often forming large flocks with other geese at staging and wintering grounds. Look for its stubby bill and steep forehead distinguishing it from the larger Canada Goose, with flocks most visible during fall migration and winter in agricultural fields and near lakes, feeding actively in early morning and late afternoon.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Stay at least 30 to 50 metres from feeding or roosting flocks and avoid walking directly toward them, since repeated flushing during migration and winter costs geese energy they need for the season.
- In the United States and Canada this species is protected under migratory bird treaty legislation, restricting hunting to regulated seasons and prohibiting general disturbance outside those rules.
- Vehicles make a good, low-disturbance viewing blind along field edges.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
835,737 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 2.8 kg
Photo
(c) Bridget Spencer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bridget Spencer
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.