This handbook will aid you determine the kinds of geese seen in Quebec, as well as assisting you determine them using images and detailed ID guides and when you are most likely to see them. It’ll also include some interesting information.
Quebec has been home to 12 of the thirteen species of geese found in North America. The majority of the species may be seen during migration, although some are uncommon or accidental.
A gaggle is a collection of geese. So, have you heard of the terms shien, wedge, and plump? These are some of the names for geese.
Or maybe because of their territorial habits and loud honking, they’ve been employed as guards to safeguard pets, people, and even countries for centuries!
In the United States, it is unlawful to harm geese, their eggs, or their nests without authorization from the US migratory bird treaty. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
12 Types Of Geese In Quebec:
1. Canada Goose
Canada Geese can be seen all year in Quebec. Summer checklists from birdwatchers in the area indicate they are 25%, while winter checklists from birdwatchers indicate they are 5%.
Canada Geese have a long, graceful neck and a large size that distinguishes them from Cackling Geese, who they resemble. They also have a black head and white chin strap.
Brown with a tan or light chest and a white rump, their bodies are dark. The subspecies’ bodies may be gray or brown in color, with varying degrees of darkness. They have black legs and webbed feet.
- Branta canadensis
- Length: 25 – 45 in (64 – 114 cm)
- Weight: 230.09 oz (6521 g)
- Wingspan: 70 – 75 in (178 – 190 cm)
Canada Geese are found in Canada and migrate to southern US states during the winter, while those in northern US states stay throughout the year and do not migrate. Western Europe is also home to these creatures.
Canada Geese can be found virtually anywhere. They are frequently seen around lakes and rivers, as well as other places with a body of water and an plentiful food source. They also live happily in urban environments like city parks, reservoirs, golf courses, public parks, and beaches since they are also used to humans.
They’ve become a pest in certain areas, where their numbers have exploded.
While on land, Canada Geese eat grasses, tiny aquatic insects, and small fish. On the water, they eat grasses and small fish. When they’re on agricultural fields, they also eat wheat, rice, and corn. They’re used to raiding trash cans for food and getting fed by people.
Canada Geese nests are frequently found near water, in an elevated position. In a nest composed of plant material and down, the female lays up to nine eggs. While the male stays nearby and protects the eggs, she incubates them for around a month.
Their parents bring them to a meal source when they are hatched, and they learn to feed themselves there. When parents sense danger or threats to their family, they become extremely territorial and violent.
Fun Fact: Adults lose their flight feathers during the breeding season, as it coincides with their molting cycle. Only after twenty to forty days do they regain their feathers, just in time for them to fly with their young.
2. Snow Goose
Snow Geese are seen throughout Quebec all year, but between April and May and between October and November, their numbers rise dramatically. During the spring, they appear in 12% of checklists, while during the autumn, they appear in 16%.
With the exception of its black wingtips, pink beak, and pink legs and foot, the Snow Goose is appropriately named since it is completely white.
The Blue Goose, a different variation with a white head and a dark blue-gray body, is surprisingly available. Due to their feeding, both versions of the Snow Geese may have a “stained” head on occasion.
Both versions have comparable sexes, but their sizes might differ. Males outnumber females in terms of size.
Dusky gray-brown juveniles, and dark gray juveniles, are the color of juvenile white morphs. They both, on the other hand, retain their distinctive pink beak and black grin patch.
- Anser caerulescens
- Length: 25 – 31 in (64 – 79 cm)
- Weight: 81.13 oz (2299 g)
- Wingspan: 54.3 in (138 cm)
Snow Geese spend the winter in the United States, but breed mainly in Canada.
In freshwater marshes and agricultural grain fields, you may find Snow Geese and Blue Geese coexisting. They prefer salt marshes and coastal areas in the winter, but they’ll visit plowed fields or marshes as well.
Snow geese are primarily herbivores and voracious eaters. In water-logged soil or shallow water, they feed frequently. Plant vegetation, such as grasses, sedges, willows, rushes, and horsetails are among their favorite foods. Seeds, grains, and plants that are ripped up by their roots will also be eaten.
Large colonies of Snow Geese nests are common on tundra. Since females return to the location where they hatched to breed, the female creates a nest, which is normally a shallow depression on the ground.
She lines the nest with grasses and down after she lays the first three to five eggs. Goslings take around twenty-four days to hatch, and they are able to look after themselves when they emerge.
Fun Fact: When Snow Geese are mating for life, they pick the same color morph as themselves.
3. Brant
During migration, from April to May and October to November, Brant Geese can be seen in Quebec, particularly in the south of the province.
A black head, neck, and chest, a white collar or marking on the neck, and a white rump distinguish the Brant Goose from other geese. Several sub-species exist, however the majority of them have lighter or darker colors.
- Branta bernicla
- Length: 22 – 26 in (56 – 66 cm)
- Weight: 63.84 oz (1809 g)
- Wingspan: 43 – 48 in (109 – 122 cm)
Before moving to coastal regions of the United States and Mexico, Brant Geese breed in Canada and Alaska. In addition, they reside in Europe.
Throughout the breeding season, you may see Brant Geese in tundra, meadows, islands, and coastal areas. Salt marshes, lagoons, mudflats, and tidal estuaries are where they spend the winter.
On land and in water, Brant geese eat mostly plant material. They like eelgrass, but any grass will do. Sedges, pondweed, and aquatic insects are among the foods they consume.
In tundra ponds or on elevated spots, Brant Goose nests are frequently situated on tiny islands. They’re down-lined shallow grass bowls.
The female lays up to seven eggs, which take three to four weeks to hatch. The parents escort the young to the feeding place after the eggs have hatched.
Fun Fact: Brant geese can age up to 28 years old.
4. Cackling Goose
During migration, Cackling Geese are most often seen in southern Quebec, particularly from March to April and October to November.
Canada Geese are closely related to Cackling Geese, which are indigenous to North America. They were formerly classified as part of the Canada Goose family, but in 2004, they were designated as a complete species.
A white “chinstrap” patch distinguishes Cackling Geese from other geese. Their short, black, and triangular bills are their distinguishing features. They’re white on the outside and light brown or tan on the inside.
Cackling Geese, on the other hand, have stubbier bills, steeper foreheads, and shorter necks than Canada Geese.
The four subspecies, which include the white chinstrap and have minor variations in size or color, all have black heads and necks.
- Branta hutchinsii
- Length: 22 – 30 in (56 – 76 cm)
- Weight: 105.9 oz (3001 g)
- Wingspan: 43 – 47 in (109 – 119 cm)
Cackling Geese migrate to the United States during the winter, where they breed in Canada and Alaska.
Wetlands and meadows are home to Cackling Geese all year. During the winter, they mix with other geese in lakes, marshes, and fields before returning to the tundra during the summer.
Cackling Geese nests may be found alone or in groups. They’re typically found near the water, in a shallow depression but in an somewhat elevated position. The nests are made out of plant materials and down by the females. She will incubate up to eight eggs in this nest for about a month.
Fun Fact: Cackling Geese are distinguished from Canada Geese by their “cackling” vocal or high-pitched cry.
5. Greater White-fronted Goose
During migration, Greater White-fronted Geese can be found throughout Quebec, primarily along the south.
In Europe, the Greater White-fronted Goose is called the White-fronted Goose, while in North America it is known as the Greater Whitefront.
Greater White-fronted Geese are both rather large geese, with males and femas appearing comparable.
Because they are frequently mistaken with the Graylag Goose, their barred feathers are mostly gray all-over. The white front, or the white feathers around the base of its orange beak, is what distinguishes them. The underparts of their wings are likewise dotted with black flecks.
- Anser albifrons
- Length: 26 – 34 in (66 -86 cm)
- Weight: 126.98 oz (3599 g)
- Wingspan: 53 – 60 in (135 – 152 cm)
Greater White-fronted Geese breed in Canada and migrate to the United States and Mexico for winter in North America. Nonetheless, Europe and east Asia are also home to them.
Greater White-fronted Geese spend the winter on the West Coast of the United States, The Gulf Coast, and Mexico, where they breed in western Canada.
During the breeding season, Greater White-fronted Geese may be seen in marshy tundra, wetlands, rivers, and ponds. They conceal in agricultural land, marshes, bays, and lakes throughout the winter.
Both land and water are used by Greater White-fronted Geese. They consume agricultural grains and seeds. Grasses and berries are also on the menu. They hunt for aquatic insects and mollusks near water.
Greater White-fronted Geese nesters may be discovered in tundra wetlands in shallow depressions. They commonly contain three to six eggs and are lined with grass and down. Over two to three weeks, the female incubates them.
Fun Fact: Long-term family relationships exist among Greater White-fronted Geese. The youngsters remain with their parents until the following breeding season, even if they migrate together with their progeny.
6. Ross’s Goose
Throughout migration, from March to May and September to December, Ross’ geese can be seen in Quebec’s south. They are not particularly frequent.
Snow Geese, with whom Ross’ geese often flock, are similar to Ross’s geese. Their small, gray-based red-orange beaks, pink-red legs and feet, and black wingtips are the only part of them that is white. The female is somewhat smaller than the male.
Ross’ Goose has a dark phase variation, but it’s quite uncommon. It has a dark gray throat, underparts, and back with a white head and a brownish bill with a red patch.
- Anser rossii
- Length: 21 – 26 in (53 – 66 cm)
- Weight: 59.2 oz (1678 g)
- Wingspan: 47 – 54 in (119 – 137 cm)
Ross’ Geese live in the United States during the winter and breed in northern Canada.
During the winter, Ross’ Geese can be found in both salt and freshwater marshes. They will nest on the Arctic Tundra throughout the breeding season.
Grass, sedges, and tiny grains are frequently eaten by Ross’ geese, which forage in wetlands, meadows, and fields for them.
In colonies on lake islands and arctic tundra, Ross’s Geese nests may be found. Females make nests out of grasses, moss, leaves, and twigs lined with down on the ground. A female lays four to five eggs, which she nurtures for three weeks.
Fun Fact: The smallest geese in North America are Ross’s geese.
7. Pink-footed Goose
In Quebec, Pink-footed Geese are a uncommon or accidental species that may be seen flying through the province’s south.
The Pink-footed Goose, often known as the “pinkfoot,” has pink feet and legs, unlike its cousins the Taiga and Tundra Bean Geese. Although they appear similar,
Brown heads, black beaks with a pink band in the center, blue-gray backs and wings, light-brown throats, breasts, bellies with a barring pattern, white rumps and pink legs and feet.
The skin of juveniles is dark brown with a more prominent scaled pattern on their sides, flanks, and backs. Males and females appear similar.
- Anser brachyrhynchus
- Length: 26 in (66 cm)
- Weight: 97.6 0z (2766 g)
- Wingspan: 53 – 67 in (135 – 170 cm)
Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States are home to Pink-footed Geese throughout the winter. Greenland and Europe, on the other hand, are home to the majority of them.
Open tundra, huge estuaries, agricultural farmlands, and rocky outcrops and crags are all good places to see Pink-footed Geese.
During the summer, Pink-footed Geese feed on a broad range of tundra plants, both on land and in water, whereas in winter they mostly eat grains, sugar beets, and potatoes from agricultural fields.
Pink-footed Goose nests are frequently found on cliffs near glaciers, as well as on islands in lakes. To avoid predatory attacks, they must have a secure habitat for nesting. Simple, shallow scrapes on the ground covered in moss and down serve as nests.
The female lays three to five eggs and cares for them for approximately four weeks. The tiny goslings accompany their parents to the nearest lake for food when the eggs hatch.
Fun Fact: Pink-footed Geese are beneficial to farmers since they eat the leaves and roots of sugar beets and potatoes after harvest, even if they may damage crops while feeding. Crop diseases are less likely to be transmitted this way.
8. Barnacle Goose
While there have been reports in the province’s south during migration from March to May and September to mid-December, Barnacle Geese are considered uncommon or accidental species in Quebec.
Medium-sized yet delicate-looking geese, Barnacle Geese are a species of medium-sized geese. Their heads, necks, and upper chests are black, while their bellies are white. Their faces are white, while their bills are short and black. Their wings and back are silver-gray with black and white stripes.
V-shaped rumps and silver-gray linings are apparent when the bird is in flight.
- Branta leucopsis
- Length: 23 – 28 in (58 – 71 cm)
- Weight: 62.4 oz (1768 g)
- Wingspan: 52 – 56 in (132 – 142 cm)
The North Atlantic is home to Barnacle Geese, which breed and spend the winter in eastern Canada and northern US states.
Barnacle Geese may be found in salt marshes, grassy meadows, pasturelands, and agricultural lands. They prefer to live on islets, islands, and near-shore cliff ledges throughout the breeding season.
Grass is the principal source of food for barnacle geese, whether on tundra, near water, or in fields. When near water, they consume aquatic plants and insects, as well as crops and grains in fields.
To keep the eggs safe from predators, Barnacle Goose nests are frequently built on cliff ledges. The nest is lined with soft down feathers and is built by the female using mud and dead foliage.
The female deposits five eggs, which she incubates for twenty-five days. The juveniles are taken to marshes with plenty of vegetation when the eggs hatch, where they can feed on their own. After approximately 45 days, the fledge chicks are born.
Fun Fact: Barnacle Geese are thought to have evolved from Barnacles, according to a Medieval Legend.
9. Tundra Bean-Goose
In Quebec, Tundra Bean-Geese are an uncommon species that has been declared an accidental species. Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, however, has been reported recently in 2022.
Some authorities still consider the Tundra Bean-Goose to be a single species, despite its close relationship to the Taiga Bean-Goose. They have been recognized as separate species by the American Ornithological Society and the International Ornithologists Union.
The head of Tundra Bean-Geese is brown, with an orange ring in the middle of the beak. Their backs and wings have a dark brown barring pattern, while their throat and flanks have light brown barring. They have a white rumps. Orange is the color of their legs and feet.
Juveniles have a yellow beak, dull orange legs, and faint streaking on the flanks, but males and females appear similar.
The Tundra Bean Goose has a shorter beak with a smaller orange band on the bill, while the Taiga Bean Goose has a longer beak with a broader orange marking.
- Anser serrirostris
- Length: 28 – 33 in (71 – 84 cm)
- Weight:120 oz (3401 g)
- Wingspan: 53 – 64 in (135 – 163 cm)
In Europe, but not in North America, Taiga Bean Geese are most common.
Tundra Bean-Goose, especially during mating season, may be found in tundra. Marshes, saturated grasslands, lakes, and huge rivers are all expected to be home to it during the winter. They also like to hang out on farms, where they can mingle with other geese.
Tundra Bean-Geese eat grasses, seeds, and tiny creatures in the wetlands, but cereal grains and potatoes are eaten in agricultural fields.
Tundra Bean-Geese nests are often discovered amid the tundra vegetation. On a dry hummock of moss, nests are built of lichen and down and placed in a shallow scrape. The female incubates four to six eggs for twenty-six days, producing four to six eggs.
Fun Fact: Because Tundra Bean-Goose are skittish, they prefer fields where there are no grazing animals.
10. Graylag Goose
In Quebec, Whitelag Geese are an accidental species. They were last seen in Coteau-du-Lac in 2015, and they are very uncommon in the province.
Most domestic goose breeds are thought to be descended from the Graylag Goose (Greylag Goose). They have a pinkish-orange beak with a white tip on the end and dull pink legs, which are mostly dark gray throughout.
Females are somewhat smaller than males, although both sexes look similar.
- Anser anser
- Length: 34 in (86.36 cm)
- Weight: 76 oz (2154 g)
- Wingspan: 66 in (167.6 cm)
Domesticated geese, such as Greylag Geese in North America, are sometimes too big to fly. Since they are native to Europe, finding wild ones is uncommon.
During their breeding season, you may find Graylag Geese in marshes, lakes, and reservoirs. They favor places with abundant ground cover, such as reeds, rushes, and shrubs. They can be found on saltwater marshes, estuaries, bogs, and even on agricultural land throughout the winter.
Both land and water provide food for Greylag Geese. They feed on the grass with sheep or cows on land, grazing in pastures. Cereals, such as oats, wheat, and barley, which they find in agricultural fields and farmlands, are also eaten by them.
Graylag Geese eat aquatic plants and animals, such as tiny fish, amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. They are found near or on the water.
Graylag Goose nests are most often discovered amid tall reeds or bushes on the ground. The female lays four to six eggs and does not begin to incubate until the final egg is deposited. For roughly a week, she’ll sit on the eggs while the male protects the area.
Fun Fact: Graylag Goose feathers were utilized to fletch arrows and were used as quill pens.
11. Egyptian Goose
In Quebec, Egyptian Geese are extremely uncommon, and in 2021, they were last spotted near Drummondville.
The Egyptian Goose is a beautiful bird that has spread to invasive population levels in a few nations, most notably zoos and aviaries.
Egyptian Geese have a lot of differences that make them easily recognized. A brown patch surrounds their golden-yellow or orange eyes. Their bills are pink on top and black on the bottom, with their heads being whitish-gray with some reddish tints at the nape.
They have a reddish-brown collar, which is unusual. Their backs and wings are a combination of white, green, brown, and black. Their breasts are tan, their bellies are white with gray linings, and their bottoms are black. Pink legs and feet are visible on them.
The head and nape of juveniles are a darker reddish-brown. Their bellies are usually brown or tan in color. Dark brown backs and wings distinguish them.
- Alopochen aegyptiaca
- Length: 24 – 29 in (61 – 74 cm)
- Weight: 70 – 77.5 oz (1984 – 2196 g)
- Wingspan: 52 – 60 in (132 – 152 cm)
Egyptian geese, despite their origin in Africa, have a presence in Europe and North America.
Egyptian Goose may be found near water in open, wetlands, and non-forested areas. Zoos and aviaries are also common places to keep them.
Seeds, leaves, grasses, and plant stems are all favorites of Egyptian Geese. Algae and aquatic plants, as well as insects and tiny animals, will be consumed by them.
Egyptian Goose nests may be found on the ground, in tree hollows, caves, and other animals’ nests. The nests, which contain up to twenty-two eggs and take around a month to hatch, are mostly made of grasses, leaves, and down.
The young must learn to feed themselves, while the adults will look after them.
Fun Fact: In Ancient Egypt, the Egyptian Goose was revered as a holy bird, and their art often depicts them.
12. Emperor Goose
In Quebec, Emperor Geese are an accidental species, and they were last seen in Saint Anicet in 2020.
Since they prefer coastal environments, Emperor Geese are also known as Beach Geese. Because of their beautiful feathers, they are also known as Painted Geese.
Both Emperor Geese males and females are similar. Their heads, necks, bills, chins, and throats are all white. Their bodies are blue-gray with scalloped patterns on the legs and tails.
As Emperor Geese feed in tidal pools with iron oxide during the summer, their heads turn reddish-brown or orange.
The color of juveniles is duller. The heads and necks of these animals are dark. Their legs are darker in color, and their bills are grayish-black.
- Anser canagicus
- Length: 26 – 28 in (66 – 71 cm)
- Weight: 110.37 oz (3128 g)
- Wingspan: 48 – 56 in (122 – 142 cm)
Emperor Geese breed in the north, around the Bering Sea, and spend the winter there.
Throughout the summer, you may see the Emperor Goose in freshwater tidal pools, inland lakes, and coastal lagoons. Mudflats, rocky coasts, and coastal tundra are where they spend the winter.
Emperor geese eat a variety of foods depending on their habitat and season. They feed entirely on land during their breeding and nesting seasons, eating grasses, sedges, fruits, roots, and bulbs.
They “puddle” on mudflats during the winter, stamping their feet to dislodge clams and foraging. Crustaceans, bivalve mollusks, barnacles, eelgrass, and sea lettuce are among the foods they consume while they’re on or near water.
Emperor Goose nests are often found amid the marshes, in shallow depressions on the ground. She lays around four to six eggs in the nests, which she lines with leaves and her own feathers.
But, in other Emperor Geese nests, she may lay up to eight more eggs… guts!
The female incubates for twenty-four days. After a few hours, the goslings are able to walk, swim, and feed themselves.
Fun Fact: The adult white crown and nape of the Emperor Goose, which look like ermine trim on a royal cloak, are what give it its name.