Canada Goose — Jo's Bird Watching

Best known for its black head and neck with a bold white chinstrap set against a brown body. A large goose, 75–110cm long with a wingspan up to 185cm and males weighing as much as 6.5kg. Native across Canada and the northern US, especially around the Great Lakes, and now established as an introduced species in parts of Europe and beyond. Grazes on grasses, aquatic plants and grain, tearing off blades with a jerk of the bill. Pairs for life from its second year on and lays 2–9 eggs per clutch. Highly adaptable — urban parks and golf courses suit it as well as open wetland — and rated Least Concern, with North American numbers in the millions.

Species Profile

IOC World Bird List

90-100 cm; span c. 1.6-1.8 m. Unmistakable in Aust. Large, long-necked goose with grey-brown body, black neck and head with bold, broad white band from ear-coverts under chin. Bill black, legs and feet dark grey. White V across uppertail-coverts visible in flight. Immature: brownish wash to white face band. Flies fast and strong with deep wingbeats.

Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park Situated within the highlands of north-west Queensland, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park about 300 km north-east of Mt Isa, features deep sandstone gorges and sandstone ranges. The park is also the location of the world-famous Riversleigh Fossil site, the richest known fossil mammal deposit in Australia. One part of the fossil site in the south-east of the park is open to the public. Purple-crowned Fairywren can be found around the campsite and in pandanus along Lawn Hill Creek; look for Buff-sided Robin here as well. Other species to look out for include Grey Falcon, Great Bowerbird, Crimson Chat, Carpentarian Grasswren, White-browed Robin, Sandstone Shrikethrush, Barking Owl, Masked Finch, and Long-tailed Finch. Channel-billed Cuckoo inhabits Lawn Hill Gorge year round. The park can be accessed via the Barkly Highway 210 km to the south, or Gregory Downs 100 km to the east. Lawn Hill National Park: 18.701111S 138.4875E Website: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/

Voice: very vocal, especially in flight -loud, rolling double trumpet 'ker honk'; defensive hiss.
Habitat: freshwater lakes, rivers, marshes, flooded pasture, damp grassland and coastal estuaries.
Range & Status: native to N. America and Mexico; introduced to Europe and NZ. Feral NZ population belongs to race maxima, the largest form, from Great Plains region of n. USA. NZ population is partially migratory; vagrants have reached Lord Howe I. and e. coast of Aust., e.g. Shoalhaven Heads (NSW) Oct.-Nov. 2002.