Sergey Dereliev

American species introduced into Europe at start of 20th century, established breeding populations in Fennoscandia, W. Europe and UK. European population mainly recently split greater Canada goose, B. canadensis, locally also cackling goose B. Hutchinsii common. For historic reasons here treated simultaneously. Northern populations migratory, others dispersive. Breeds in wide diversity of habitats, frequently found in agricultural or urban areas, almost always near water. Diet stems, leaves, tubers and seeds of plants. Size of European population not known, likely exceeds 75.000 breeding pairs.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendIncreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		20000-100000,44700
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Canada Goose

Northernmost populations in Scandinavia connect to S. Sweden, Denmark and N. Germany in winter, Scottish birds connect to England, other UK populations to close-by locations within UK, rarely crosses to mainland. Dutch and German birds show short-distance movements in all directions, predominantly after moulting. Rare movements further south to Spain, S. France and Italy. Three recoveries of birds ringed in Delaware, USA in Iceland, Scotland and Ireland.

Recoveries by Condition for Canada Goose

Almost one fifth of recoveries refer to dead birds, of which just over half (11% of total) refer to birds being shot or intentionally taken. Proportion of shot birds decreased over time, with just 6% after 1990. Shot birds equally found over complete range, birds dead from other causes mainly in UK, S. Sweden and Denmark. Ringing recoveries also make up one fifth, only in UK, Belgium, Norway and Sweden. Live resightings make up remaining 60%, equally distributed over range, and increasing over time to three quarters after 1990.

Annual Movements for Canada Goose

Little variation visible. Nov until end Mar only presence in England, W. and C. Europe and sparsely in S. Fennoscandia. From begin Apr density in Fennoscandia increases, from begin May birds appear in northernmost Scandinavia. From Jul density in Fennoscandia increases further and birds appear in Scotland, presumably due to catching operations during fledging and moult. Mid Aug- begin Oct eye-catching post-moult concentration around Stockholm, Sweden, from end Oct only sparse presence in Fennoscandia again.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Canada Goose

Birds ringed during fledging and moulting in Jul in N. Europe are nearly all re-encountered in S Sweden, Denmark and N. Germany in Nov-Feb. Re-encounters in other months are usually at close-by locations in all directions, probably representing moult migration. Birds in Scotland in Jul connect to scattered locations in England in Aug-Feb, one exceptionally to Yamalo-Nenets Russia. Southern UK populations connect to close-by sites towards SW-SE in the same period. Birds in UK in winter Nov-Feb all connect to breeding sites within the UK in Jul. Birds in W. and C. Europe in winter Nov-Feb connect to breeding sites close-by in the region in Jun-Jul, except birds in N. Netherlands and Germany that also connect to Sweden in Jul. Birds from the USA connect to Iceland, Scotland and Ireland in Oct-Jan.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries