Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

This Cackling Goose, photographed in the Codroy Valley in November 2017, represents just the second confirmed record of this species for the province. (Photo: Bruce Mactavish, November 24 2017).

Status: Very Rare (< 5 records)

Origins: Cackling Goose was long considered a group of smaller subspecies of the Canada Goose. In 2004, the smallest 4 of the 11 recognized Canada Goose subspecies (Taverner’s, Richardson’s, minima Aleutian) were split out as the Cackling Goose. It is scarce to rare in eastern Canada, with identification not always straightforward.

Record Details: Two photographically confirmed records for Newfoundland. While unconfirmed, a well described individual was reported at Biscay Bay (southern Avalon) on April 28, 2006, accompanied by two standard Canada Geese. (1) The first confirmed individual was photographed on Gull Island (Witess Bay Ecological Reserve) by a visiting tour group on June 27, 2016. (2) The following year, an individual was seen and photographed among large flocks of Canada Geese in the Codroy Valley on November 24, 2017. There were also unconfirmed reports of two other individuals in the same area in Fall 2020.

In Labrador, two well described (but unconfirmed) individuals were reported from Indian Point (near Labrador City) on May 24, 2009.

* NOTE – This website is not an official account and “may” contain incorrect information and/or details of unconfirmed records. *