Geese

Bar Headed Goose:
India-Chinese goose that flies at extremely high altitudes and nests on high altitude lakes in colonies of thousands.  May be the highest flying bird in the world, migrating at heights of over 34,000 feet.

Brant Goose:
Highly maritime goose of the Northern Hemisphere, where it spends most of its life at sea.  Feeding is determined by the tide, so they may feed by night or day.  At high tide they will usually rest on the water.

Canada Goose:
A North American species with no less than twelve distinct subspecies, ranging from the giant Canada to the cackling Canada.  The largest and smallest of the true geese are both from the same species.

Egyptian Goose:

Emperor Goose:
Alaskan species that rarely migrates any long distance.  Remains in the Bering Sea throughout the year.  Eskimos round up flightless molting geese during the summer for food.

Graylag Goose:
This is the only goose indigenous to the British Isles.  Gregarious by nature, it is always seen in groups.  The ancestor of all domestic and farmyard geese.

Lesser White Fronted Goose:
Ranges across northern Russia and Siberia, often nicknamed "specklebellies" because of black speckles on the whitish bellies.  Distinct yellow ring around eye.

NeNe (Hawaiian) Goose:
The largest native land bird of the Hawaiian Islands, adopted as the state bird of HI.  A non-migratory bird that has evolved from the Canada goose.  Highly terrestrial, reduced webbing on feet for easier climbing on rocky hills.  Saved from extinction by captive breeding and release back into the wild.

Red Breasted Goose:
Smallest and rarest of the European geese, which always nests close to some raptor like Peregrine Falcons to afford protection.  This protects them from predators such as foxes and skuas, through the raptors defense of its own territory against such predators.

Ross's Goose:
Native to arctic Canada and nests in colonies of over five thousand birds strong.  Smallest of the three species of snow geese.  It associates freely with other small goose species.

Comments? Questions?  Email [email protected].
Copyright � 2003
Last modified: May 25, 2003