Cackling Goose

Also known as: Lesser Canada Goose, Lesser Canadian Goose, Small Canada Goose, Small Canadian Goose

63-89 cm (25-35") Common and widespread. Tundra, lakes, bays, marshes, fields, parks.

The black head and neck with white "chinstrap" distinguish this goose from all except the larger Canada Goose and the similarly sized Barnacle Goose.

There are up to 5 subspecies of Cackling Goose, of varying sizes and plumage details. Some are hard to distinguish from the Canada Goose, with which the Cackling Goose was long assumed to form one species, and the name Lesser Canada Goose properly denotes the subspecies parvipes of the Canada Goose.

The distinctions between the two geese have led to a great deal of confusion. This has been aggravated by the overlap between the small types of Canada Goose and larger types of Cackling Goose.