Canada Goose

No distinct seasonal dimorphism; head and neck are deep black with a prominent white cheek patch extending from the throat to behind the eyes. Upperparts are grayish-brown with pale feather edges, underparts vary from whitish to light brown.

Identical to breeding plumage; the species does not undergo a molt into a specific non-breeding plumage that differs significantly in appearance.

Similar to adults but overall duller and browner; the black neck and head are often interspersed with brown feathers, and the white cheek patch is less sharply defined and may show brownish tints.

Minimal; males (ganders) are on average slightly larger and heavier than females, but the plumage is identical in both sexes.

Largest goose in Europe; black head and neck with a white 'chinstrap'; grayish-brown body; in flight, a conspicuous white U-shaped rump patch above the black tail is visible. Loud, trumpeting call (IUCN/BfN).

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) - smaller, white face extending to the forehead; Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) - significantly smaller, shorter bill, often darker base of the neck.

Strong, black, with well-developed lamellae along the cutting edges for filtering and tearing vegetation.

No song; communication occurs through a wide repertoire of social vocalizations.

Very loud, two-syllable 'ah-honk' or 'ka-ronk', with the second syllable usually higher pitched; used for flock cohesion during flight and territorial marking.

Originally North America; widely distributed invasive species in Europe (UK, Scandinavia, Germany, Netherlands). Widespread across water bodies in Germany (BfN monitoring).

In Europe largely resident or short-distance migrants; Nordic populations migrate to milder regions of Central Europe.

Partial migrant; many populations in Central Europe are resident. However, there are distinct molt migrations to safe water bodies in summer.

Shoreline areas of standing water bodies, islands in lakes, park ponds, bogs, and increasingly urban green spaces with access to water.

Grasslands, intensively used pastures, arable fields (especially cereal and maize stubble), lawns in parks and sports facilities.

Shallow ground depression, often on elevations or islands; lined with grasses, lichens, moss, and a thick layer of down feathers.

Creamy white, initially smooth, later often nest-stained; average size approx. 86 x 58 mm.

Both parents lead the precocial young; the female primarily incubates while the male guards the territory and the family.

Purely herbivorous: grasses, sedges, herbs, and aquatic plants; high protein requirements during brood rearing are met by young shoots.

Grasses, winter cereals, crop residues in fields (maize, potatoes), roots, and rhizomes of aquatic plants.

Grazing on land (pasturing), dabbling in shallow water, dipping head and neck in deeper water.

Selective grazing; prefers nutrient-rich, short-mown lawns or freshly germinated cereals.

Highly social; forms large flocks and winter aggregations outside the breeding season; lifelong monogamy is the rule.

Flight in V-formation or lines for energy efficiency; coordinated vigilance within the group during foraging.

No population threat in Europe; management measures (hunting, egg management) due to invasiveness and conflicts with agriculture/recreational areas.

Strongly increasing in Europe; the species is considered an established invasive alien species and is on the list of invasive alien species of Union concern (EU Regulation 1143/2014).

No conservation measures required; instead, population control is often implemented to prevent eutrophication of water bodies and agricultural damage.