by Pileated

Created on: April 20, 2008   Last Updated: November 19, 2010

What is a Canada goose (Branta canadensis)? Most of us would think this is an easy question but it is actually quite complex and difficult to answer. Only a few years ago, taxonomic experts listed at least 12 subspecies for the Canada goose with one subspecies believed to be extinct. These subspecies were grouped in various ways based upon size and color. However, recently, experts have determined that what was considered 12 variations of the Canada goose is actually two separate species; the Canada goose, having 7 subspecies and the Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) composed of 4 subspecies.

While the experts now officially differentiate the 12 subspecies into 2 distinct species, bird watchers have an almost impossible task to accurately tell the difference. One tip that might help is a review of their coloration, size, and range.

The Cackling goose, which is generally smaller than the Canada goose, includes the Baffin Island subspecies (B. h. hutchinsii), which is small and pale and nests in the arctic tundra and winters in Texas; Aleutian cackling goose (B.h. leucopareia) with paler breast, thick white collar at the base of the neck and black chinstrap, nests in the Aleutian islands and winters in California; Taverner's cackling Goose (B. h. taverneri), lighter and usually without a neck ring, breeds in Alaska and winters in Washington and Oregon; and, last but not least, cackling goose, (B. h. minima), the smallest of the and darkest of the subspecies, breeds mostly in western Alaska and winters in central California.

The Canada goose, ranging in size from moderate to very large, includes the Atlantic Canada goose (B. c. Canadensis), a common large goose, lightish in color, occurring in eastern North America; Hudson's Bay or interior Canada goose (B. c. interior) which is similar in size to the Atlantic subspecies but darker and breed mostly in eastern and central Canada and winters in the east and Midwest; giant Canada goose (B. c. maxima), largest of the subspecies, is found mostly along the Mississippi flyway and in many city parks across the country; Moffit's or western Canada goose (B. c. moffitti), only slightly smaller than the giant subspecies, occurring in the west; the lesser Canada goose (B. c. parvipes), a medium-sized goose which breeds in Alaska and winters in Washington and Oregon; dusty Canada goose (B. c. occidentalis), a medium to large goose breeding in Alaska and wintering in Washington and Oregon; and the Vancouver Canada goose (B.

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