Branta canadensis

• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes

Common Names

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Description

Family Anatidae

Birds that are modified for swimming, floating on the water surface, and in some cases diving in at least shallow water. They have webbed feet and flattened bills. Special oils in their feathers helps them shed water. This is one of the few families of birds that possess a penis .

Physical Description

Habitat

Found in bays , lakes , and reservoirs , as well as cultivated fields .

Vegetation: freshwater lakes and ponds, arid lowland scrubs, pastures and agricultural lands, freshwater marshes • Maximum Elevation: 1,800 meters • Sensitivity to Disturbancet: Low

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 4,653 meters (0 to 15,266 feet).Mean = 375.680 meters (1,232.546 feet), Standard Deviation = 515.840 based on 19,998 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Ecology:
List of Habitats :4.1Grassland - Tundra 5.4Wetlands (inland) - Bogs , Marshes, Swamps , Fens , Peatlands 5.5Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) 5.16Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools 14.1Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land 14.5Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas 15.5Artificial/Aquatic - Excavations (open)

Biology

Diet

The main foods eaten by the Canada Goose are plant materials - roots , seed, shoots , bulbs, grain, and berries . A large amount of grain is eaten during the winter. This species gathers food by taking items off the surface or near the surface of the water, "up-ending" (raising its tail end up while moving its head below the surface of the water to eat vegetation), or taking food items off of the ground .

Reproduction

The breeding season begins in late April. The nesting habitat is highly variable, but is usually near water. Nests are on the ground near the water's edge or on muskrat or other mounds within the water. The nest is constructed of plant material , moss, and sticks , and lined with finer material and down . The female lays 4-10 (usually 4-7) eggs that she incubates for 25-30 days. The young are precocial and remain with the adults until the next spring . They are cared for by the adults for approximately a month to two months after they hatch .

• Breeding Habitat: Wetland-open water
• Clutch Size: 4-10
• Length of Incubation : 25-30 days
• Days to Fledge : 40-73
• Number of Broods: 1

Migration

Migratory

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms

1. Branta canadensis (Linnaeus) 1758

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001.

Similar Species

Brant, Barnacle Goose

Members of the genus Branta

There are approximately 47 species in this genus:

B. bernicla (Brant) · B. bernicla bernicla · B. bernicla hrota (Brant) · B. bernicla nigricans · B. bernicla orientalis · B. bernicla ssp · B. berniclas · B. bernicula · B. c. canadensis · B. canadensis (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis canadensis (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis fulva (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis hutchinsi (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis hutchinsii · B. canadensis interior (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis leucopareia (Aleutian Canada Goose) · B. canadensis maxima (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis minima (Cackling Canada Goose) · B. canadensis moffitti (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis occidentalis (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis parvipes (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis ssp · B. canadensis taverneri (Canada Goose) · B. canadensis teverneri · B. canadensis x · B. dickeyi · B. esmeralda · B. howardae · B. hrota · B. hutchinsii (Cackling Goose) · B. hutchinsii asiatica · B. hutchinsii hutchinsii · B. hutchinsii leucopareia · B. hutchinsii minima · B. hutchinsii taverneri · B. hylobadistes · B. leucopsis (Barnacle Goose) · B. leucopsis x · B. nigricans · B. propinqua · B. ruficapilla · B. ruficollis (Red-Breasted Goose) · B. rufina · B. sandivicensis · B. sandvicensis (Hawaiian Goose) · B. sandwichensis · B. x albifrons

Bibliography

• Bird Reference Citations. The numbers inserted in the text accounts above (usually in bold) refer to references. For further details on these references, click on the BirdLife International link above to go to the specific species account on the BirdLife web site. In some cases, particularly in the taxonomic notes, the references are cited using the author names. Details for these can be found on the BirdLife International web site at the following two places: For References from A–L. For References from M–Z.
• BirdLife International 2006. Threatened Birds of the World 2006. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 04/05/2006.

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Notes

Contributors

• BirdLife International 2006. In IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCNRedList.org. Downloaded July 18, 2008.
• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 and ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 26, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 68 providers.
• Universal Biological Indexer and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 17, 2008.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 26, 2007:

• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, North West Territories and Nunavut Bird Checklist, Canada
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Ontario Nest Records
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Birds
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Royal British Columbia Museum

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 3854318
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-175010
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13815863
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 174999
• IUCN ID: 47149
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: ABNJB05030
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 227

Footnotes

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