Aleutian cackling goose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aleutian cackling goose |
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| Branta hutchinsii leucopareia | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Branta |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
B. h. leucopareia
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| Trinomial name | |
| Branta hutchinsii leucopareia (Delacour, 1951)
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The Aleutian cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia) is a small type of cackling goose. It weighs about 1.7 to 2.1 kilograms (3.7 to 4.6 pounds). This bird was one of the many animals first written about by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
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Understanding Goose Families
Scientists group living things into families. This is called taxonomy. The Aleutian cackling goose was once thought to be a type of Canada goose. Its scientific name was Branta canadensis leucopareia.
There was also a similar group called the Bering cackling goose. They lived on the Komandorski and Kuril Islands. These geese were very much like the Aleutian ones. Sadly, by the 1920s, these birds disappeared. They went extinct because of Arctic foxes and people.
What Does the Aleutian Cackling Goose Look Like?
The Aleutian cackling goose has a black head and neck. It has white patches on its cheeks. Its back and wings are grayish-brown. The rump is white, and its tail feathers are black. Its legs and feet are also black.
Special Markings on This Goose
A special mark is a clear white ring around its neck. This ring is usually wider than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) in adult birds. It has darker feathers just below it. The white cheek patches are often split by a black line under the throat. Its chest is a light grayish-brown color.
Comparing Different Cackling Geese
The small cackling goose (B. h. minima) looks similar. But it is smaller and has a dark chest. This chest often has a purplish or brownish color. Taverner's cackling goose (B. h. taverneri) is larger. It has a lighter chest color. Both of these geese can have white neck rings. However, their rings are usually thin or hard to see.
Helping the Aleutian Cackling Goose Survive
The biggest danger to the Aleutian cackling goose was the Arctic fox. These foxes were brought to the Aleutian Islands by fur traders. This happened between 1836 and 1930. By 1963, these geese only nested on Buldir Island.
From Endangered to Recovered
In 1967, the U.S. Department of the Interior listed the Aleutian cackling goose as endangered. This meant it was at risk of disappearing forever. But thanks to conservation efforts, the goose population grew. In 2001, it was removed from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered mammals and birds. This was a great success story for wildlife protection.
Where Do Aleutian Cackling Geese Live and Travel?
Aleutian cackling geese usually arrive in California in mid-October each year. Most of them go straight to their main winter homes. These homes are in the Central Valley of California.
Their Winter Journey
Since 2002, a smaller group (about 1,500 to 5,000 geese) spends fall and winter on the northern coast. Around late December, the geese in the Central Valley start moving north. By mid-February, most of these geese are in northwestern California. They stay there until mid-April. Then, they fly back to the Aleutian Islands. Since 2004, Humboldt County has been a key spot for these geese from January to April.
See also
