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89-611: Anas canadensis Linnaeus, 1758 The Canada goose ( Branta canadensis ) is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America , and it is occasionally found during migration across the Atlantic in northern Europe . It has been introduced to France , the United Kingdom , Ireland , Finland , Sweden , Denmark , New Zealand , Japan , Chile , Argentina , and

178-410: A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft at Elmendorf AFB , Alaska , struck a flock of Canada geese on takeoff, losing power in both port side engines. It crashed 2 mi (3.2 km) from the runway, killing all 24 crew members. The accident sparked efforts to avoid such events, including habitat modification, aversion tactics, herding and relocation, and culling of flocks. In 2009, a collision with

267-437: A pest species because of its excrement , its depredation of crops, its noise, its aggressive territorial behavior toward both humans and other animals, and its habit of stalking and begging for food , the latter a result of humans disobeying artificial feeding policies toward wild animals . The Canada goose was one of the many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his 18th-century work Systema Naturae . It belongs to

356-417: A combination of a generic name and a specific name ; together they make a " binomen ". No other rank can have a name composed of two names. Examples: In botanical nomenclature, the equivalent for "binominal nomenclature" is "binary nomenclature" (or sometimes " binomial nomenclature "). This is the principle that the correct formal scientific name for an animal taxon , the valid name , correct to use,

445-436: A female one (the latter referring to a male). Young birds before fledging are called goslings . The collective noun for a group of geese on the ground is a gaggle ; when in flight, they are called a skein , a team , or a wedge ; when flying close together, they are called a plump . The word "goose" is a direct descendant of Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰh₂éns . In Germanic languages , the root gave Old English gōs with

534-708: A flock of migratory Canada geese resulted in US Airways Flight 1549 suffering a total loss of power from both engines after takeoff, forcing the crew of the aircraft to ditch the plane in the Hudson River with no loss of human life. As a large, common wild bird, the Canada goose is a common target of hunters, especially in its native range. Drake Larsen, a researcher in sustainable agriculture at Iowa State University , described them to The Atlantic magazine as "so yummy ...good, lean, rich meat. I find they are similar to

623-460: A good cut of beef." The British Trust for Ornithology , however, has described them as "reputedly amongst the most inedible of birds." The U.S. goose harvest for 2013–14 reported over 1.3 million geese taken. Canada geese are rarely farmed, and sale of wild Canada goose meat is rare due to regulation and slaughterhouses' lack of experience with wild birds. Geese in New York City parks culled by

712-502: A half meters tall and weighed about 22 kilograms. The evidence suggests the bird was flightless, unlike modern geese. Most goose species are migratory, though populations of Canada geese living near human developments may remain in a locality year-round. These 'resident' geese, found primarily in the eastern United States, may migrate only short distances, or not at all, if they have adequate food supply and access to open water. Migratory geese may use several environmental cues in timing

801-686: A homonymy usually produces the same problems as if there were no rules: conflicts between entirely independent and unconnected groups of taxonomists working in different animal groups. Very often the Commission must be asked to take a decision. Examples: For names above the superfamily level, the principle of homonymy does not apply. Examples: Family-rank names and genus-rank names cannot be homonyms of one another, even if identical. Example: Animal, plant, and fungi nomenclature are entirely independent from each other. The most evident shortcoming of this situation (for their use in biodiversity informatics )

890-409: A lack of former predators. Males exhibit agonistic behavior both on and off breeding and nesting grounds. This behavior rarely involves interspecific killing. One documented case involved a male defending his nest from a brant that wandered into the area; the following attack lasted for one hour until the death of the brant. The cause of death was suffocation or drowning in mud as a direct result of

979-459: A large population of Canada geese. Canada geese live year-round in the southern part of their breeding range, including the northern half of the United States' eastern seaboard and Pacific Coast, and areas in between. Between California and South Carolina in the southern United States and in northern Mexico , Canada geese are mainly present as migrants from further north during the winter. By

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1068-401: A mixture of B. c. minima , B. c. occidentalis , and B. c. parvipes . The holotype specimen of taverneri is a straightforward large pale cackling goose however, and hence the taxon is still valid today and was renamed "Taverner's cackling goose". In addition, the barnacle goose ( B. leucopsis ) was determined to be a derivative of the cackling goose lineage, whereas

1157-582: A permit which can be used from March 11 through August 31 to destroy nests, conduct a goose roundup or exterminate geese. Canada geese have reached Northern Europe naturally, as has been proved by ringing recoveries . The birds include those of the subspecies B. c. parvipes , and possibly others. These geese are also found naturally on the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Siberia , and eastern China . Canada geese have also been introduced in Europe in

1246-763: A pet dog. Once they reach adulthood, due to their large size and often aggressive behavior, Canada geese are rarely preyed on, although prior injury may make them more vulnerable to natural predators. Beyond humans, adults can be taken by coyotes and grey wolves ( Canis lupus ). Avian predators that are known to kill adults, as well as young geese, include snowy owls ( Bubo scandiacus ), golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ) and bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) and, though rarely on large adult geese, great horned owls ( Bubo virginianus ), northern goshawks ( Accipiter gentilis ), peregrine falcons ( Falco peregrinus ), and gyrfalcons ( Falco rusticolus ). Adult geese are quite vigorous at displacing potential predators from

1335-457: A problem in some areas by fouling pastures and damaging crops. They were protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and the population was managed by Fish and Game New Zealand , which culled excessive bird numbers. In 2011, the government removed the protection status, allowing anyone to kill the birds. Like most geese, the Canada goose is naturally migratory with the wintering range being most of

1424-426: A subgenus) are the same as for the name actually published (for example a genus). It is immaterial if there is an actual taxon to which the automatically established name applies; if ever such a taxon is recognised, there is a name available for it. This is the principle that in cases of conflicts between simultaneously published divergent acts, the first subsequent author can decide which has precedence. It supplements

1513-570: A tendency to spend less time at rest stops and go through the migration much faster. The later birds usually spend more time at rest stops. Some geese return to the same nesting ground year after year and lay eggs with their mate, raising them in the same way each year. This is recorded from the many tagged geese which frequent the East Coast. Canada geese fly in a distinctive V-shaped flight formation, with an altitude of 1 km (3,000 feet) for migration flight. The maximum flight ceiling of Canada geese

1602-458: A variety of grains and other foods by humans in parks. Canada geese prefer lawn grass in urban areas. They usually graze in open areas with wide clearance to avoid potential predators. During the second year of their lives, Canada geese find a mate. They are monogamous , and most couples stay together all of their lives. If one dies, the other may find a new mate. The female lays from two to nine eggs with an average of five, and both parents protect

1691-652: Is a bird of any of several waterfowl species in the family Anatidae . This group comprises the genera Anser (grey geese and white geese) and Branta (black geese). Some members of the Tadorninae subfamily (e.g., Egyptian goose , Orinoco goose ) are commonly called geese, but are not considered "true geese" taxonomically. More distantly related members of the family Anatidae are swans , most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks , which are smaller. The term "goose" may refer to such bird of either sex, but when paired with " gander ", refers specifically to

1780-493: Is also retroactive or retrospective , which means that previous editions of the code, or previous other rules and conventions have no force any more today, and the nomenclatural acts published earlier must be evaluated only under the present edition of the code. In cases of disputes a case can be brought to the commission who has the right to publish a final decision. In regulating the names of animals it holds by six central principles, which were first set out (as principles) in

1869-676: Is also colloquially referred to as the "Canadian goose". This name may annoy some birders . The cackling goose was originally considered to be the same species or several subspecies of the Canada goose, but in July 2004, the American Ornithologists' Union 's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature split them into two species, making the cackling goose into a full species with the scientific name Branta hutchinsii . The British Ornithologists' Union followed suit in June 2005. The AOU has divided

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1958-419: Is believed because of the long days of flying in migration the thyroid gland sends out more T 4 which help the body cope with the longer journey. The increased T 4 levels are also associated with increased muscle mass ( hypertrophy ) of the breast muscle, also because of the longer time spent flying. It is believed that the body sends out more T 4 to help the goose's body with this long task by speeding up

2047-470: Is generally permitted only during the defined open season . Geese have a tendency to attack humans when they feel themselves or their goslings to be threatened. First, the geese stand erect, spread their wings, and produce a hissing sound. Next, the geese charge. They may then peck or attack with their wings. Canada geese have been implicated in a number of bird strikes by aircraft. Their large size and tendency to fly in flocks may exacerbate their impact. In

2136-569: Is important to cite author and year. Citing the author alone is often not sufficient. Examples: In some cases, the same genus-group or species-group name was published in the same year by the same author. In these cases it is useful to cite the page where the name was established. There are cases where two homonyms were established by the same author in the same year on the same page: Homonyms occur relatively rarely in families (only if generic names are identical or very similar and adding an ending "-idae" produces identical results). Discovering such

2225-420: Is independent of other systems of nomenclature, for example botanical nomenclature . This implies that animals can have the same generic names as plants (e.g. there is a genus Abronia in both animals and plants). The rules and recommendations have one fundamental aim: to provide the maximum universality and continuity in the naming of all animals, except where taxonomic judgment dictates otherwise. The code

2314-435: Is meant to guide only the nomenclature of animals, while leaving zoologists freedom in classifying new taxa . In other words, while species concepts (and thus the definition of species) are arbitrary to some degree, the rules for names are not. The code applies only to names. A new animal name published without adherence to the code may be deemed simply "unavailable" if it fails to meet certain criteria, or fall entirely out of

2403-548: Is partially due to the removal of natural predators and an abundance of safe, human-made bodies of water near food sources, such as those found on golf courses, in public parks and beaches, on sports fields, and in planned communities. Due in part to the interbreeding of various migratory subspecies with the introduced non-migratory giant subspecies, Canada geese are frequently a year-round feature of such urban environments. Contrary to its normal migration routine, large flocks of Canada geese have established permanent residence along

2492-417: Is slightly lighter at 2.4–5.5 kg ( 5 + 1 ⁄ 4 – 12 + 1 ⁄ 4  lb), averaging amongst all subspecies 3.6 kg (8 lb), and generally 10% smaller in linear dimensions than the male counterparts. The honk refers to the call of the male Canada goose, while the hrink call refers to the female goose. The calls are similar, however, the hrink is shorter and more high-pitched than

2581-599: Is spent at perennial stopover sites, where individuals rest and build up fat stores for further travel. Geese, like other birds, fly in a V formation . This formation helps to conserve energy in flight, and aids in communication and monitoring of flock mates. Using great white pelicans as a model species, researchers showed that flying in a V formation increased the aerodynamics of trailing birds, thus requiring fewer wing flaps to stay aloft and lowering individuals' heartrates. Leading geese switch positions on longer flights to allow for multiple individuals to gain benefits from

2670-431: Is that the same generic name can be used simultaneously for animals and plants. For this kind of homonym the expression "hemihomonym" is sometimes used. Far more than 1000 such names are known. Examples: This is the principle that each nominal taxon in the family group, genus group, or species group has—actually or potentially—a name-bearing type fixed that provides the objective standard of reference that determines what

2759-561: Is the oldest available name that applies to it. It is the most important principle—the fundamental guiding precept that preserves zoological nomenclature stability. It was first formulated in 1842 by a committee appointed by the British Association to consider the rules of zoological nomenclature. Hugh Edwin Strickland wrote the committee's report. Examples: There are over 2 million junior synonyms recorded in zoology, primarily at

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2848-469: Is the principle that the name of each taxon must be unique. Consequently, a name that is a junior homonym of another name must not be used as a valid name. It means that any one animal name, in one particular spelling, may be used only once (within its group). This is usually the first-published name; any later name with the same spelling (a homonym ) is barred from being used. The principles of priority and first reviser apply here. For family-group names

2937-412: Is unknown, but they have been reported at 9 km (29,000 feet). Flying in the V formation has been the subject of study by researchers. The front position is rotated since flying in front consumes the most energy. Canada geese leave the winter grounds more quickly than the summer grounds. Elevated thyroid hormones , such as T 3 and T 4 , have been measured in geese just after a big migration. This

3026-562: The Branta genus of geese, which contains species with largely black plumage , distinguishing them from the gray species of the genus Anser . Branta was a Latinized form of Old Norse Brandgás , "burnt (black) goose" and the specific epithet canadensis is a Neo-Latin word meaning "from Canada ". According to the Oxford English Dictionary , the first citation for the 'Canada goose' dates back to 1772. The Canada goose

3115-435: The principle of priority , which states that the first published name takes precedence. The principle of the first reviser deals with situations that cannot be resolved by priority. These items may be two or more different names for the same taxon, two or more names with the same spelling used for different taxa, two or more different spellings of a particular name, etc. In such cases, the first subsequent author who deals with

3204-486: The American Civil War but were reintroduced in 1956 with 10 pairs. The population was estimated at 18,000 in 1979. The geese are considered protected, though a hunting season is allowed from September 1–15, with a daily bag limit of five. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recommends several non-lethal scare and hazing tactics for nuisance geese, but if such methods have been used without success, they may issue

3293-546: The Falkland Islands . Like most geese, the Canada goose is primarily herbivorous and normally migratory; often found on or close to fresh water , the Canada goose is also common in brackish marshes, estuaries, and lagoons. Extremely adept at living in human-altered areas , Canada geese have established breeding colonies in urban and cultivated habitats, which provide food and few natural predators. The success of this common park species has led to it often being considered

3382-558: The Hawaiian Islands . Geese are monogamous , living in permanent pairs throughout the year; however, unlike most other permanently monogamous animals, they are territorial only during the short nesting season. Paired geese are more dominant and feed more, two factors that result in more young. Goose fossils have been found ranging from 10 to 12 million years ago (Middle Miocene). Garganornis ballmanni from Late Miocene (~ 6-9 Ma) of Gargano region of central Italy, stood one and

3471-710: The Hawaiian goose ( B. sandvicensis ) originated from ancestral Canada geese. Thus, the species' distinctness is well evidenced. Ornithologist Harold C. Hanson, who had rediscovered wild populations of the Giant Canada Goose, proposed splitting Canada and cackling goose into six species and 200 subspecies. The radical nature of this proposal has been controversial; Richard Banks of the AOU urges caution before any of Hanson's proposals are accepted. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature has suppressed Hanson's proposals, based on

3560-526: The Migratory Birds Convention Act . In both countries, commercial transactions such as buying or trading are mostly prohibited and the possession, hunting, and interfering with the activity of the animals are subject to restrictions. In the UK, as with native bird species, the nests and eggs of Canada geese are fully protected by law, except when their removal has been specifically licensed, and shooting

3649-584: The Netherlands , Belgium , Germany , Scandinavia , and Finland in the 20th Century, starting in Sweden in 1929. Most European populations are not migratory, but those in more northerly parts of Sweden and Finland migrate to the North Sea and Baltic coasts. Semi-tame feral birds are common in parks, and have become a pest in some areas. In Great Britain, they were spread by hunters, but remained uncommon until

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3738-674: The New York City Department of Environmental Protection have been donated to food banks in Pennsylvania. In 2000, the North American population of the geese was estimated to be between 4 million and 5 million birds. A 20-year study from 1983 to 2003 in Wichita, Kansas , found the size of the winter Canada goose population within the city limits increased from 1,600 to over 18,000 birds. Goose A goose ( pl. : geese )

3827-512: The Ohio population of Canada geese was reported as roughly 130,000, with the number likely to continue increasing. Many of the geese, previously migratory, reportedly had become native, remaining in the state even in the summer. The increase was attributed to a lack of natural predators, an abundance of water, and plentiful grass in manicured lawns in urban areas. Canada geese were eliminated in Ohio following

3916-789: The University of York at the age of 31. In order to survive the extreme winter temperatures, the geese prefer to stay in urban areas rather than in green spaces since industrial areas retain heat. Known predators of eggs and goslings include coyotes ( Canis latrans ), Arctic foxes ( Vulpes lagopus ), northern raccoons ( Procyon lotor ), red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ), large gulls ( Larus species), common ravens ( Corvus corax ), American crows ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ), carrion crows (in Europe, Corvus corone ) and both brown ( Ursus arctos ) and American black bears ( Ursus americanus ). Geese and their goslings are occasionally preyed upon by domestic dogs—these occurrences can be prevented by leashing

4005-405: The fledgling stage any time from six to nine weeks of age. They do not leave their parents until after the spring migration, when they return to their birthplace. Canada geese are known for their seasonal migrations. Most Canada geese have staging or resting areas where they join up with others. Their autumn migration can be seen from September to the beginning of November. The early migrants have

4094-578: The greylag goose and snow goose , and Branta , black geese, such as the Canada goose . Two genera of geese are only tentatively placed in the Anserinae; they may belong to the shelducks or form a subfamily on their own: Cereopsis , the Cape Barren goose, and Cnemiornis , the prehistoric New Zealand goose . Either these or, more probably, the goose-like coscoroba swan is the closest living relative of

4183-424: The honk of males. When agitated or aggressively defending territory, Canada geese will typically initiate an encounter with a high-pitched hiss. Canada geese communicate with ten different vocalizations, each in response to a different situation confronting them. This species is native to North America. It breeds in Canada and the northern United States in a wide range of habitats. The Great Lakes region maintains

4272-412: The wing chord can range from 39 to 55 cm ( 15 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 21 + 1 ⁄ 2  in), the tarsus can range from 6.9 to 10.6 cm ( 2 + 11 ⁄ 16 to 4 + 3 ⁄ 16  in) and the bill can range from 4.1 to 6.8 cm ( 1 + 5 ⁄ 8 to 2 + 11 ⁄ 16  in). The largest subspecies is B. c. maxima , or the giant Canada goose, and the smallest (with

4361-448: The "true geese" (i.e., the genera Anser and Branta ), the Canada goose is on average the largest living species, although some other species that are geese in name, if not of close relation to these genera, are on average heavier, such as the spur-winged goose and Cape Barren goose . Canada geese range from 75 to 110 cm (30 to 43 in) in length and have a 127–185 cm (50–73 in) wingspan . Among standard measurements,

4450-416: The Canada goose's pecking the head of the brant into the mud. Researchers attributed it to high hormone levels and the brant's inability to leave the nesting area. Canada geese are primarily herbivores , although they sometimes eat small insects and fish . Their diet includes green vegetation and grains . The Canada goose eats a variety of grasses when on land. It feeds by grasping a blade of grass with

4539-498: The HPAI virus, a H5N1 virus, found that the geese were susceptible to the virus. This proved useful for monitoring the spread of the virus through the high mortality of infected birds. Prior exposure to other viruses may result in some resistance to H5N1. The Canada goose is considered part of the Canadian national identity. In North America, nonmigratory Canada goose populations have been on

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4628-527: The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center was built near Jamestown, North Dakota. Its first director, Harvey K. Nelson, talked Forrest Lee into leaving Minnesota to head the center's Canada goose production and restoration program. Forrest soon had 64 pens with 64 breeding pairs of screened, high-quality birds. The project involved private, state, and federal resources and relied on the expertise and cooperation of many individuals. By

4717-738: The Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia's Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island area south to the San Francisco Bay area of Northern California. There are also resident Atlantic coast populations, such as on Chesapeake Bay , in Virginia 's James River regions, and in the Triangle area of North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), and nearby Hillsborough. Some Canada geese have taken up permanent residence as far south as Florida, in places such as retention ponds in apartment complexes. In 2015,

4806-444: The United States, the Canada goose is the second-most damaging bird strike to airplanes, with the most damaging being turkey vultures . Canada geese can cause fatal crashes when they strike an aircraft's engine. The FAA has reported 1,772 known civil aircraft strikes within the United States between 1990 and 2018. The total cost of these bird strikes to general and commercial aviation has been reported to exceed $ 130 million. In 1995,

4895-469: The United States. The calls overhead from large groups of Canada geese flying in a V-shaped formation signal the transitions into spring and autumn. In some areas, migration routes have changed due to changes in habitat and food sources. In mild climates from southwestern British Columbia to California to the Great Lakes , some of the population has become nonmigratory due to adequate winter food supply and

4984-427: The annual summer molt also takes place during the breeding season, the adults lose their flight feathers for 20–40 days, regaining flight about the same time as their goslings start to fly. As soon as the goslings hatch, they are immediately capable of walking, swimming, and finding their own food (a diet similar to that of adult geese). Parents are often seen leading their goslings in a line, usually with one adult at

5073-445: The beginning of their migration, including temperature, predation threat, and food availability. Like all migratory birds, geese exhibit an ability to navigate using an internal compass, using a combination of innate and learned behaviors. The preferred direction of migration is heritable, and birds appear to orient themselves using Earth's magnetic field. Migrations occur over the course of several weeks, and up to 85% of migration time

5162-420: The bill, then tearing it with a jerk of the head. The Canada goose also eats beans and grains such as wheat , rice , and corn when they are available. In the water, it feeds from aquatic plants by sliding its bill at the bottom of the body of water. It also feeds on aquatic plant-like algae, such as seaweed . In urban areas, it is also known to pick food out of garbage bins. They are also sometimes hand-fed

5251-544: The criticisms of Banks and other ornithologists. The black head and neck with a white "chinstrap" distinguish the Canada goose from all other goose species except the cackling goose and barnacle goose (the latter, however, has a black breast and gray rather than brownish body plumage). Some Canada geese come with a pepper-spotted or brown neck with brown plumage, and these are assumed to be a leucistic variety. The seven subspecies of this bird vary widely in size and plumage details, but all are recognizable as Canada geese. Some of

5340-438: The eagle is displaying active hunting behavior. Canada geese are quite wary of humans where they are regularly hunted and killed, but can otherwise become habituated to fearlessness toward humans, especially where they are fed by them. This often leads to the geese becoming overly aggressive toward humans, and large groups of the birds may be considered a nuisance if they are causing persistent problems to humans and other animals in

5429-650: The early 17th century by explorer Samuel de Champlain who sent several pairs of geese to France as a present for King Louis XIII . The geese were first introduced in Great Britain in the late 17th century as an addition to King James II 's waterfowl collection in St. James's Park . By the middle of the 18th century, the Canada geese have established populations in France and Great Britain , but also in Ireland. They were also introduced in

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5518-530: The early 20th century, overhunting and loss of habitat in the late 19th and early 20th centuries had resulted in a serious decline in the numbers of this bird in its native range. The giant Canada goose subspecies was believed to be extinct in the 1950s until, in 1962, a small flock was discovered wintering in Rochester, Minnesota , by Harold Hanson of the Illinois Natural History Survey. In 1964,

5607-636: The end of 1981, more than 6,000 giant Canada geese had been released at 83 sites in 26 counties in North Dakota. With improved game laws and habitat recreation and preservation programs, their populations have recovered in most of their range, although some local populations, especially of the subspecies B. c. occidentalis , may still be declining. In recent years, Canada goose populations in some areas have grown substantially, so much so that many consider them pests for their droppings, bacteria in their droppings, noise, and confrontational behavior. This problem

5696-410: The front and the other at the back. While protecting their goslings, parents often violently chase away nearby creatures, from small blackbirds to lone humans who approach: first giving a warning hiss, and then attacking with bites and slaps of the wings. Although parents are hostile to unfamiliar geese, they may form groups of a number of goslings and a few adults, called crèches . The offspring enter

5785-498: The geese obtrusive or object to their waste. Addling goose eggs and destroying nests are promoted as humane population control methods. Flocks of Canada geese can also be captured during molt and this method of culling is used to control invasive populations. Canada geese are protected from hunting and capture outside of designated hunting seasons in the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act , and in Canada under

5874-404: The junior and senior homonyms have been in separate genera after 1899 (Art. 57.2.1, Art. 23.9). Examples: Secondary homonyms occur when taxa with the same specific name but different original genera are later classified in the same genus (Art. 57.3, 59). A secondary homonym may only be a temporary state, as it only applies so long as two species are congeneric. Under a different classification,

5963-539: The less energy-intensive trailing positions; in family groups, parental birds almost always lead. Some mainly Southern Hemisphere birds are called "geese", most of which belong to the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae . These are: Others: The oldest collection of Medieval Icelandic laws is known as "Grágás" ; i.e., the Gray Goose Laws . Various etymologies were offered for that name: International Code of Zoological Nomenclature Zoological nomenclature

6052-444: The many subspecies between the two species. The subspecies of the Canada goose were listed as: The distinctions between the two geese have led to confusion and debate among ornithologists. This has been aggravated by the overlap between the small types of Canada goose and larger types of cackling goose. The old "lesser Canada geese" were believed to be a partly hybrid population, with the birds named B. c. taverneri considered

6141-506: The matter and chooses and publishes the decision in the required manner is the first reviser, and is to be followed. Example: Linnaeus 1758 established Strix scandiaca and Strix noctua (Aves), for which he gave different descriptions and referred to different types, but both taxa later turned out to refer to the same species, the snowy owl . The two names are subjective synonyms. Lönnberg 1931 acted as first reviser, cited both names and selected Strix scandiaca to have precedence. This

6230-404: The metabolism and lowering the temperature at which the muscles work. Also, other studies show levels of stress hormones such as corticosterone rise dramatically in these birds during and after a migration. The lifespan in the wild of geese who survive to adulthood ranges from 10 to 24 years. The British longevity record is held by a specimen tagged as a nestling, which was observed alive at

6319-433: The mid-20th century. Their population grew from 2,200 to 4,000 birds in 1953 to an estimated 82,000 in 1999, as changing agricultural practices and urban growth provided new habitat. European birds are mostly descended from the nominate subspecies B. c. canadensis , likely with some contributions from the subspecies B. c. maxima . Canada geese were introduced as a game bird into New Zealand in 1905. They have become

6408-475: The name of a genus also establishes the corresponding name of a subgenus (or vice versa): genus Giraffa Linnaeus, 1758 and subgenus Giraffa ( Giraffa ) Linnaeus, 1758 . In the family-group, publication of the name of a family, subfamily, superfamily (or any other such rank) also establishes the names in all the other ranks in the family group (family Giraffidae, superfamily Giraffoidea, subfamily Giraffinae). Author citations for such names (for example

6497-456: The nest site, with predator prevention usually falling to the larger male of the pair. Males usually attempt to draw attention of approaching predators and toll (mob terrestrial predators without physical contact) often in accompaniment with males of other goose species. Eagles frequently cause geese to fly off en masse from some distance, though in other instances, geese may seem unconcerned at perched bald eagles nearby, seemingly only reacting if

6586-581: The nest while the eggs incubate , but the female spends more time at the nest than the male. Its nest is usually located in an elevated area near water such as streams, lakes, ponds, and sometimes on a beaver lodge. Its eggs are laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. The incubation period, in which the female incubates while the male remains nearby, lasts for 24–32 days after laying. Canada geese can respond to external climatic factors by adjusting their laying date to spring maximum temperatures, which may benefit their nesting success. As

6675-496: The nonmigratory populations (which tend to be larger and more of a nuisance) as opposed to migratory flocks showing natural behavior, which may be rarer. Since 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services agency has been engaged in lethal culls of Canada geese primarily in urban or densely populated areas. The agency responds to municipalities or private land owners, such as golf courses, which find

6764-840: The plural gēs and gandra (becoming Modern English goose, geese, gander, respectively), West Frisian goes , gies and guoske , Dutch : gans , New High German Gans , Gänse , and Ganter , and Old Norse gās and gæslingr , whence English gosling . This term also gave Lithuanian : žąsìs , Irish : gé (goose, from Old Irish géiss ), Hindi: कलहंस, Latin : anser , Spanish and Portuguese : ganso , Ancient Greek : χήν ( khēn ), Albanian : gatë ( swans ), Finnish : hanhi , Avestan zāō , Polish : gęś , Romanian : gâscă / gânsac , Ukrainian : гуска / гусак ( huska / husak ), Russian : гусыня / гусь ( gusyna / gus ), Czech : husa , and Persian : غاز ( ghāz ). The two living genera of true geese are: Anser , grey geese and white geese, such as

6853-501: The province of science (e.g., the "scientific name" for the Loch Ness Monster ). The rules in the code determine which available names are valid for any taxon in the family group, genus group, and species group. It has additional (but more limited) provisions on names in higher ranks . The code recognizes no case law . Any dispute is decided first by applying the code directly, and not by reference to precedent. The code

6942-409: The relevant other ranks with the same type. In the species-group, publishing a species name (the binomen ) Giraffa camelopardalis Linnaeus, 1758 also establishes the subspecies name (the trinomen ) Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis Linnaeus, 1758 . The same applies to the name of a subspecies; this establishes the corresponding species name. In the genus-group, similarly, publishing

7031-695: The rise. The species is frequently found on golf courses, parking lots, and urban parks, which would have previously hosted only migratory geese on rare occasions. Owing to its adaptability to human-altered areas, it has become one of the most common waterfowl species in North America. In many areas, nonmigratory Canada geese are now regarded as pests by humans. They are suspected of being a cause of an increase in high fecal coliforms at beaches. An extended hunting season, deploying noise makers, and hazing by dogs have been used in an attempt to disrupt suspect flocks. A goal of conservationists has been to focus hunting on

7120-492: The same genus and same species in their original combination. The difference between a junior primary homonym and a subsequent use of a name is undefined, but it is commonly accepted that if the name referred to another species or form, gave a description, and if there is in addition no evidence the author knew that the name was previously used, it is considered as a junior homonym. Example: Typically, junior primary homonyms are permanently invalid, but some are treated as valid if

7209-581: The separation of the cackling goose group) is B. c. parvipes , or the lesser Canada goose. An exceptionally large male of race B. c. maxima , which rarely exceed 8 kg (18 lb) , weighed 10.9 kg (24 lb) and had a wingspan of 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in). This specimen is the largest wild goose ever recorded of any species. The male Canada goose usually weighs 2.6–6.5 kg ( 5 + 3 ⁄ 4 – 14 + 1 ⁄ 4  lb), averaging amongst all subspecies 3.9 kg ( 8 + 1 ⁄ 2  lb). The female looks virtually identical, but

7298-512: The smaller races can be hard to distinguish from the cackling goose, which slightly overlap in mass. However, most subspecies of the cackling goose (exclusive of Richardson's cackling goose, B. h. hutchinsii ) are considerably smaller. The smallest cackling goose, B. h. minima , is scarcely larger than a mallard . In addition to the size difference, cackling geese also have a shorter neck and smaller bill, which can be useful when small Canada geese comingle with relatively large cackling geese. Of

7387-442: The species level. The principle of coordination is that within the family group, genus group and species group, a name established for a taxon at any rank in the group is simultaneously established with the same author and date for taxa based on the same name-bearing type at other ranks in the corresponding group. In other words, publishing a new zoological name automatically and simultaneously establishes all corresponding names in

7476-421: The substitute name is itself not in use. Example: Double homonymy (genus and species) may or may not be homonymy in the strict sense: if the genera are homonyms but not the same genus, the same specific names can be used in both groups, because the species are subsequently placed in different genera when the generic homonymy is removed. Example: For disambiguating one genus-group name from its homonym, it

7565-478: The surrounding area. Salinity plays a role in the growth and development of goslings. Moderate to high salinity concentrations without fresh water results in slower development, growth, and saline-induced mortality. Goslings are susceptible to saline-induced mortality before their nasal salt glands become functional; the majority of such deaths occur before the sixth day of life. Canada geese are susceptible to avian bird flus, such as H5N1 . A study carried out using

7654-504: The termination (which is rank-bound) is not taken into account. Genera are homonyms only if exactly the same — a one-letter difference is enough to distinguish them. Examples: The following are not homonyms of Argus : The following names are not homonyms of each other: Some spelling variants are explicitly defined by the Code as being homonyms. Otherwise the one-letter difference rule applies. In species, primary homonyms are those with

7743-412: The third edition of the code (1985): This is the principle that the scientific name of a species, and not of a taxon at any other rank, is a combination of two names; the use of a trinomen for the name of a subspecies and of uninominal names for taxa above the species group is in accord with this principle. This means that in the system of nomenclature for animals, the name of a species is composed of

7832-631: The true geese. Fossils of true geese are hard to assign to genus; all that can be said is that their fossil record, particularly in North America , is dense and comprehensively documents many different species of true geese that have been around since about 10 million years ago in the Miocene . The aptly named Anser atavus (meaning "progenitor goose") from some 12 million years ago had even more plesiomorphies in common with swans. In addition, some goose-like birds are known from subfossil remains found on

7921-516: The two species may no longer be in the same genus, and the junior name can potentially be used again (Art. 59.1), as long as it was not replaced before 1961, in which case it is permanently invalid (Art. 59.3). This is one of the rare cases where a single zoological species can have two entirely different names at the same time, depending upon whose classification is followed. Example: Article 59.3 states that junior secondary homonyms replaced before 1961 by substitute names are permanently invalid unless

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