Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNJB05030
Common Name: 
Canada Goose
Scientific Name: 
Branta canadensis
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Anseriformes
Family: 
Anatidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

2 - 3 years
References: 
B999

Economic/Human Considerations

important to sport hunters in southern Canada and US
References: 
B999
Habitat
variety of areas: tressless and forested country
References: 
B004
H127
Distribution

Ecozones

Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.80; now only large-bodied old sub-species (B.c. canadensis, interior, masima, moffitti, parvipes (in NWT), occidentalis, fulva) (B004); ~99% of the total NWT area. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS).
Score: 
G
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern Canada to southern US

Number of Occurrences

dispersed breeder
References: 
H127

Historical Distribution

unknown, but possibly similar to present
References: 
H127

Area of Occupancy

unknown, but likely stable
Score: 
-
References: 
W119
Population

Population Size

184,755 CAGO in NWT in 2014 (data from 2014 USFWS waterfowl breeding surveys, strata 13-18 (W119 accessed Feb 6, 2015)).
Score: 
G
References: 
W119

Density

dispersed breeder
Trends

Trends

"Over the past 10 years, the Midwinter counts of the Central Flyway Arctic Nesting Canada Geese (CFAN) population have not exhibited a significant trend (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2014. Waterfowl population status, 2014. U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. USA.)."
Score: 
G
References: 
W119
Threats

Threats

potential over-hunting
Score: 
C
References: 
B999
H127

Intrinsic Vulnerability

In north, pollution, development, global climate change
Score: 
-
References: 
B999
H127
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Jim Hines with review by S. Carriere, mostly based on printed material in 2000; Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda based on printed literature only, no change in status; Reviewed in 2010;no change ; Reviewed by Ian Fife and Cindy Wood CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 16, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • USFWS (2014) Accessed by CWS Region (Ian Fife and Cindy Wood) February 2015 https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/mbdc/databases/mas/maydb.asp - W119 Return

Economic Status

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return
  • Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return
,
AOU (2004) Forty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. AUK 121:985-995 - ASC7 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Population Size

USFWS (2014) Accessed by CWS Region (Ian Fife and Cindy Wood) February 2015 https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/mbdc/databases/mas/maydb.asp - W119 Return

Short Term Trends

  • USFWS (2014) Accessed by CWS Region (Ian Fife and Cindy Wood) February 2015 https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/mbdc/databases/mas/maydb.asp - W119 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return
  • Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return