Geese of Wisconsin (10 Species)

Geese can be loud, but also beautiful birds that can be found in Wisconsin. Since there are only a few different species that call the state home, it can be a good group to start with if you’re just beginning to learn bird identification. Both males and females of these species look the same as far as plumage, and they do not have different colorations in different seasons. Most can be seen more frequently in Wisconsin during spring and fall when they migrate.

The geese species below are grouped by those that can be found in Wisconsin annually, those that are vagrants (they occasionally show up), and finally, those that are domesticated escaped birds that can sometimes be found in parks or other urban areas.

Geese that can Annually be Found in Wisconsin (5 Species)

Canada Goose

Canada Goose
Identification

Adult Canada Geese are large birds with a black head and neck, white cheek, brown back and sides, black feet and legs, with a white stomach and rump. They are larger, have a longer neck, and a longer bill than the closely related Cackling Goose. It’s worth noting that there are many different subspecies of Canada Geese that can vary slightly in size and appearance.

Range

Common year-round throughout much of North America, the Canada Goose migrates south in the winter and north throughout the Northern U.S., Canada and Alaska in the summer. Once seen as a majestic migratory bird, many Canada Geese have spread to urban environments and can be seen hissing at those that get too close to them or their young. Due to their ability to live year-round in urban spaces, this species can be seen in Wisconsin year round.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

During spring, Canada Geese feed mostly on grasses, and during the fall and winter, they eat mostly seeds and berries.

Where to Find this Bird

Look for Canada Geese near water, in open or grassy fields often in large flocks. They can also be found in and near urban ponds. Look for them flying overhead making the classic goose “honk” and flying in a “V” formation.

Listen to the Canada Goose Call – Jonathan Jongsma (CC by 3.0)
A flock of birds illustrating the “V” formation flight pattern (Mussi Katz photo)

Cackling Goose

Cackling Goose (front) with Canada Goose (behind)
Identification

Adult Cackling Geese look very similar to Canada Geese, but with some key identification differences. They have similar color patterns with a black head and neck, white cheek, brown back and sides, black feet and legs, with a white stomach and rump, however they are smaller (about Mallard duck sized) with a stubbier neck, steep forehead, and smaller, more triangular shaped bill. They will often flock with Canada Geese, along with other geese species. These flocks can be extremely large during migration.

Click here to get more information on how to differentiate Cackling Geese from Canada Geese.

Range

The Cackling Goose spends winter in the central U.S. and Central America, with some populations near the East and West coasts. Their migratory route spans the central U.S. and west coast, and they migrate to northern North America to breed. They can be found in Wisconsin annually, and will normally be seen during the spring and fall, mixed in with flocks of Canada Geese.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Cackling Geese feed mostly on plants and plant material such as grasses, sedges, seeds, and berries.

Where to Find this Bird

Look for Cackling Geese near water, in open or grassy fields, and in mixed flocks. Also look for them flying overhead with other goose species, and keep an eye out for noticeable smaller birds, compared to Canada Geese.

Snow Goose

Snow Geese (2 blue morph left and 1 white morph, right) (Bill Grossmeyer photo)
Blue morph Snow Goose (Bill Grossmeyer photo)
Identification

Snow Geese are majestic birds that come in different color morphs. The adult white morph Snow Goose has an all white body, black wingtips, and a pinkish-orange bill with a black “grin patch”. A “grin patch” is a visible space between the upper and lower mandible of the bird seen when the bird’s bill is closed. A “blue morph” Snow Goose is the same size as the white morph with the same bill color, however the body is dark in coloration with variable amounts of white and darker colors along with a white head.

Range

Snow Geese breed in northern North America and migrate through much of North America. They winter in select areas of the United States and Central America, often in large flocks. In Wisconsin, they can most reliably be seen in the spring and fall as they migrate.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Snow Geese are vegetarians that feed on grasses, shrubs, seeds, berries and more. Sometimes they will eat entire plants.

Where to Find this Bird

Snow Geese can be found in large flocks, mixed in with Ross’s Geese, Canada geese, and Cackling Geese. They are often seen in or near water, or in fields. Keep an eye out for mixed flocks flying overhead in a “V” formation.

Ross’s Goose

Ross’s Goose (Bill Grossmeyer photo)
Identification

Along with Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese also have multiple color morphs. Adult white morph Ross’s Geese have an all white body, black wingtips, and a pinkish-orange bill with a small or absent “grin patch”. A blue morph Ross’s Goose will be the same size as the white morph with the same bill color, however the body will be dark in coloration with variable amounts of white and darker colors along with a white head. A true blue morph Ross’s Goose is very rare, and many are actually hybrid Snow and Ross’s Geese. Keep on the lookout for signs of hybridization such as a bird with a small, triangular bill but a large, dark grin patch. Overall, Ross’s Geese will be smaller than Snow Geese with a smaller, triangular bill that has a gray-blue base, and a stubbier neck.

Range

Ross’s Geese breed in northern North America in colonies and migrate through much of central and western North America. They winter in select areas of the United States and Central America, often in large flocks. In Wisconsin, they can most reliably be seen in the spring and fall as they migrate.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Ross’s Geese are vegetarians that feed on grasses, shrubs, seeds, berries and more. Sometimes they will eat entire plants.

Where to Find this Bird

Ross’s Geese can be found in large flocks, mixed in with Snow Geese, Canada, and Cackling Geese. They are often seen in or near water, or in fields. Keep an eye out for mixed flocks flying overhead in a “V” formation.

Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose (Bill Grossmeyer photo)
Identification

Adult Greater White-fronted Geese (sometimes called Speckled Geese, or Speckle-belly Geese) are brown in color with a white rump, white stripe on their side, white forehead, black spots on their stomach and a bright pinkish-orange bill and legs. They can look similar to Greylag Geese, which are a domesticated species that can sometimes be seen in urban parks, but Greylag Geese will have a thicker bill, be larger and more stout, and have a striped neck.

Range

Greater White-fronted Geese breed in northern North America in colonies, and on the Alaskan tundra, and migrate through much of central and western North America. They winter in select areas of the western and southern United States and central America, often in large, mixed flocks. In Wisconsin, they can most reliably be seen in the spring and fall as they migrate.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Greater White-fronted Geese feed mostly on plant material such as grasses, berries, sedges, emergent vegetation, and tubers.

Where to Find this Bird

Greater White-fronted Geese can be found in large flocks, mixed in with Ross’s, Snow, Canada, and Cackling Geese. They are often seen in or near water, or in fields. Keep an eye out for mixed flocks flying overhead in a “V” formation.

Check out this video to see all 5 goose species in their natural habitats

Geese that Show Up to Wisconsin on Occasion (2 Species)

Brant

Brant
Identification

The Brant is a medium-sized goose that is smaller than a Canada Goose, but larger than a Mallard duck. They have a black head, stubby black bill, black neck and upper chest, with a brown and white body, white rump, and black wingtips. They have a characteristic white mark on their neck that can be variable in size and shape.

Range

Brants normally migrate through parts of the western and northeastern United States and parts of Canada, with some wintering populations on the east coast and in Alaska. They nest in the arctic wetlands of northern North America and are a rare visitor to Wisconsin.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Brants feed mostly on vegetation such as grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants. In the winter, they eat mainly eelgrass and algae, although in some areas they will also eat other grasses if eelgrass is not available.

Where to Find this Bird

The Brant is rare in most midwestern states. Keep an eye out for this bird in flocks of other goose species, normally found near water or in open grassy areas or farm fields.

Watch us search for a Brant in Wisconsin, along with another rare bird, the Spotted Towhee

Barnacle Goose (Rare)

Barnacle Goose (Photo by Caleb Putnam)
Identification

The Barnacle Goose can be identified by its white face, black top of the head and neck, gray stomach, and gray, white, and black back.

Range

Barnacle Geese breed in the arctic North Atlantic islands. They are not native to the United States but sometimes they show up as vagrants, especially in the northeastern U.S. and parts of Canada. Additionally, sometimes domesticated birds escape and are seen, therefore there should be some deliberation in considering whether the bird is wild or not. A wild Barnacle Goose would be a very rare visitor to Wisconsin.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Barnacle Geese feed mostly on vegetation such as grasses and aquatic plants.

Where to Find this Bird

Barnacle Geese are extremely rare in North America. Keep an eye out for this bird in flocks of other goose species, normally found near water or in open grassy areas and farm fields.

Domestic Geese (3 Species)

These species are likely not vagrant birds, but rather domestic pets that have escaped or been released.

Greylag Goose (Domestic)

Domestic Greylag Goose
Identification

Greylag Geese are brown and white with pinkish orange feet and bill. They look similar to Greater White-fronted Geese but are larger, with a striped neck, and a more stout body. Graylag Geese also lack the prominent white forehead seen on the Greater White-fronted Goose.

Range

Greylag Geese are not native to North America, however some domesticated individuals have ended up at parks or urban ponds. They are normally non-migratory and will sometimes even beg for food.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Greylag Geese feed mostly on grasses and plant material.

Egyptian Goose (Domestic)

Domestic Egyptian Goose (Alan Schmierer photo)
Identification

Egyptian Geese are brown, white, and gray with pinkish feet and a spectacled appearance.

Range

Egyptian Geese are not native to North America, however some domesticated individuals have ended up at parks or urban ponds. They are normally non-migratory and will sometimes even beg for food. Egyptian Geese are native to central and southern Africa.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Egyptian Geese feed mostly on grasses and other plant material such as aquatic vegetation.

Where to Find this Bird

Domesticated Egyptian Geese are not “countable” from a listing perspective in the United States, but can be an interesting bird to see in parks or urban ponds.

Swan Goose (Domestic)

Domestic Swan Geese (Wildlife Terry photo)
Domestic Swan Goose (Chinese White Goose Variety) (Wildlife Terry photo)
Identification

Swan Geese have a brown back, tan stomach, white stripe down their sides, brown top of head extending down the top of the neck, white and tan side of their neck, pinkish feet, and a black bill. Some birds may also have a knob on their forehead. Swan Geese have also been bred to be all white, and may also be referred to as “Chinese White Geese”.

Range

Swan Geese are not native to North America, however some domesticated individuals have ended up at parks or urban ponds. They are normally non-migratory and will sometimes even beg for food. Swan Geese are native to Asia.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

Swan Geese are thought to be herbivorous and feed mostly on grasses and other plant material such as aquatic vegetation.

Where to Find this Bird

Domesticated Swan Geese are not “countable” from a listing perspective in the United States, but can be an interesting bird to see in parks or urban ponds. Sometimes they associate with domestic Greylag Geese.

Which of these species have you seen? Leave a comment below and thanks for reading!

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