Cackling Goose Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCackling Goose
Adult (Aleutian)
Small and compact with a short neck, small bill, and steep forehead. Head and neck are black with a large white cheek patch. Some, including most adult Aleutian birds (subspecies leucopareia), have a white collar at the base of the black neck sock.
© Matt Brady / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 04, 2010Adult (Richardson's)
Head shape ranges from rounded to boxy, but the small, triangular bill and short neck are constants. Also note the neatly barred upperparts.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 30, 2016Adult (Richardson's)
Small goose best identified by head shape: note short bill and fairly abrupt transition to steep forehead.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 02, 2014Not all videos have sound
Adult (minima)
The smallest subspecies minima is tiny (roughly the size of a male Mallard) and shows a dark breast.
© Rob O'Donnell / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 23, 2017Adult
In flight shows a prominent white "U" on the dark uppertail, contrasting with the black tail. Otherwise mostly brown with black neck and head, with a white cheek.
© Cameron Eckert / Macaulay LibraryYukon Territory, June 19, 2015Adult (Richardson's)
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, December 02, 2014Not all videos have sound
Adult (Richardson's) (with Canada Goose)
Often flocks with Canada Goose (right). Note Cackling's shorter bill with more abrupt transition to steep forehead.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 05, 2011Adult (minima)
Often occurs in large flocks, and forages in grassy habitats. The smallest subspecies, minima, is notably dark-breasted.
© Greg Gillson / Macaulay LibraryOregon, January 10, 2012Adult (Richardson's)
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 16, 2006Not all videos have sound
Adult (Richardson's) (with Snow Goose)
Often flocks with other species of geese. In comparison to Snow Goose, smaller and shorter-billed.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, December 05, 2015Similar SpeciesCanada Goose
Adult
Canada Geese are larger with a larger bill and a longer neck than Cackling Geese, but beware of smaller Canada Geese that approach the size of Cackling. Canada Geese also have a rounder head with a sloping forehead as opposed to a steep forehead seen on Cackling.
© Max McCarthy / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 24, 2017Similar SpeciesBrant
Adult (Atlantic)
Brant lack the white chin strap of a Cackling Goose. The breast is also darker than a Cackling Goose.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, March 24, 2017Similar SpeciesBrant
Adult (Black)
Brant lack the white chin strap seen on a Cackling Goose. The breast is also darker than a Cackling Goose.
© Beko Binder / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 03, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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