The Canada goose is our largest goose and maybe our most familiar. They are a common bird across most of the country, nesting on park lakes, flooded gravel pits and reservoirs. Canada geese are not native to this country, having been introduced from North America about 300 years ago. After the Second World War, they spread across the UK. Occasionally, wild Canada geese go astray and reach the UK from North America. These are usually single birds mixed in with flocks of barnacle or pink-footed geese, often found in northeast England and Scotland. Most confirmed records involve smaller subspecies of Canada goose, as ruling out feral birds is a challenge with sightings of the larger subspecies that is resident in the UK.
How to identify
The Canada goose is a large goose, with a black neck and head, grey-brown back and white cheek patches.
Did you know?
Canada geese were first introduced to the UK in St. James's Park, London, in the 17th century. Today, the population is over 150,000 birds
