(Picture is reproduced courtesy of Smart and Glen / USFWS)
The Canada goose is the largest of all the wildfowling quarry species and can be seen in most areas where there are ponds, lakes, rivers or canals. The call of the Canada is a deep "honking" and easy to identify even under extremely poor conditions.
The Canada goose was introduced to the UK in the 1600s, in America there are many variations in size and colouring etc. The European species tend to be predominantly the pale Atlantic coast race although very occasionally other races do appear which are thought to be genuine wild migrants. In Britain the Canada is usually none migratory although some do "migrate" from the south to the Moray firth. The population is now thought to be in excess of 100,000 a huge increase since a survey in 1953 counted only 3,000 birds. It is easily identified by its black neck and head, the head has a white chinstrap which is highly visible and reaches from just behind one eye and underneath the head finishing behind the opposite eye. The underbelly is very pale and the wings are a contrasting dark brownish, the back is brown and the white rump stands out well. Their feeding pattern is erratic although most semi wild birds tend to flight out with the ducks in the evening, the tamer birds will feed at anytime. Their food includes grasses, grain and root crops and they are often seen being fed by the public in parks etc. The Canada could be confused with the Barnacle under extreme conditions, the Barnacle has the black neck and white on the face but the white on the Barnacle goose's face covers it's entire face and overall the Barnacle goose is much smaller and darker it's plumage being black and white.
The Canada Goose although classed as a wildfowling quarry species was recently added to the General licence for pest control purposes. Under certain circumstances this goose species can now be pursued outside of the normal wildfowling season.
The white "chinstrap" of the Canada goose helps with identification
Canada geese can often be found feeding on stubbles within a short distance of the river