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What the sources say

Canada GooseBranta canadensis

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Canada Goose profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 49 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

NatureCounts, The State of Canada's Birds

Canada Goose. NatureCounts, The State of Canada's Birds.

The page saysThe State of Canada's Birds report puts the national population at more than 8000% larger than in 1970, based on the Breeding Bird Survey
The source saysAll other populations have experienced large increases, with the national population more than 8000% larger than in 1970, based on the Breeding Bird Survey.
The page saysOne population, in southern British Columbia, has fallen since 2006
The source saysthe southern British Columbia population has experienced a moderate decrease since 2006

Source
02

National Audubon Society, Guide to North American Birds

Canada Goose. National Audubon Society, Guide to North American Birds.

The page saysLakes, ponds, marshes, fields and city parks across North America
The source saysLakes, ponds, bays, marshes, fields. Very diverse, using different habitats in different regionsNote: stats.habitat
The page saysLakes, ponds, marshes, fields and city parks across North America
The source saysIn recent years, also resident in city parks, suburban ponds.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysMostly grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, seeds, berries and grain
The source saysConsists almost entirely of plant material. Feeds on very wide variety of plants. Eats stems and shoots of grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, also seeds and berries; consumes many cultivated grainsNote: stats.diet
The page saysLocal forms of Canada goose vary greatly in size, and the smallest ones are now regarded as a separate species, the Cackling Goose.
The source saysLocal forms vary greatly in size, and the smallest ones are now regarded as a separate species, Cackling Goose.
The page saysAn adult Canada goose is 76 cm to 1.2 m long, with a wingspan of 1.3 to 1.7 m.
The source saysLength: 2 ft 6 in-3 ft 10 in (76 cm-1.2 m); wingspan 4 ft 2 in-5 ft 7 in (1.3-1.7 m)
The page saysMales are slightly larger.
The source saysBoth sexes; male slightly larger
The page saysWeight runs from 2.9 to 8.9 kg, and populations vary greatly in size and body color.
The source saysweight: 6 lb 9 oz-19 lb 13 oz (2.9-8.9 kg)Note: second half: Different populations vary greatly in size and body color
The page sayspopulations vary greatly in size and body color
The source saysDifferent populations vary greatly in size and body color (from white-chested to very dark).
The page sayson tundra, marshes and lakeshores
The source saysNesting habitats include tundra, fresh marshes, salt marshes, lakes in wooded country.
The page saysAudubon describes its call as rich musical honking
The source saysRich musical honking.
The page saysIn recent years it has also become a resident of city parks and suburban ponds.
The source saysIn recent years, also resident in city parks, suburban ponds.
The page saysThe diet is almost entirely plants.
The source saysConsists almost entirely of plant material.
The page saysA Canada goose grazes mostly while walking on land, eating stems and shoots of grasses and sedges, plus seeds, berries and many cultivated grains.
The source saysforages mostly by grazing while walking on landNote: diet: Eats stems and shoots of grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, also seeds and berries; consumes many cultivated grains
The page sayseating stems and shoots of grasses and sedges, plus seeds, berries and many cultivated grains
The source saysEats stems and shoots of grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, also seeds and berries; consumes many cultivated grains
The page saysIt also feeds in water, submerging its head and neck, and sometimes up-ends.
The source saysalso feeds in water, submerging head and neck, sometimes up-ending
The page saysOccasionally it eats some insects, mollusks, crustaceans or small fish.
The source saysOccasionally eats some insects, mollusks, crustaceans, sometimes small fish.
The page saysCanada geese may mate for life.
The source saysCanada Geese may mate for life.
The page saysThe male defends the territory with displays that include lowering his head almost to the ground, bill slightly raised and open, and hissing.
The source saysMale defends territory with displays, including lowering head almost to ground with bill slightly raised and open, hissing
The page saysThe female builds the nest
The source saysNest (built by female)
The page saysincubates the eggs for 25 to 28 days while the male stands guard nearby
The source saysIncubation is by female, 25-28 days; male stands guard nearby.
The page saysParents lead the young away from the nest 1 to 2 days after hatching.
The source saysParents lead young from nest 1-2 days after hatching.
The page saysThe goslings feed themselves, and their first flight usually comes at 7 to 9 weeks.
The source saysYoung are tended by both parents, but feed themselves. Age at first flight varies, usually 7-9 weeks
The page saysNo. Each local population once followed a set migration route, but today many geese in urban areas and on refuges stay put all year.
The source saysHistorically, each local population of Canada Goose followed rigid migratory path, with traditional stopovers and wintering areas. Today many geese in urban areas and on refuges are permanent residents.
The page saysAlways near water.
The source saysalways nests near water
The page saysA nest is usually on slightly elevated dry ground with good visibility, but it may be on a cliff ledge, a muskrat house, in a tree or on an artificial platform.
The source saysNest site (chosen by female) is usually on slightly elevated dry ground near water, with good visibility. Much variation; may nest on cliff ledges, on muskrat houses, in trees, on artificial platforms.
The page saysA clutch is usually 4 to 7 eggs, sometimes 2 to 11.
The source says4-7, sometimes 2-11.
The page saysAudubon describes the Canada goose's call as rich musical honking
The source saysRich musical honking.

Source
03

Mowbray et al. 2020

Mowbray et al. (2020). Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). Birds of the World.

The page saysNorth America's most widely distributed goose
The source saysThe Canada Goose is the most widely distributed goose in North AmericaNote: tagline
The page saysacross North America
The source saysThe Canada Goose is the most widely distributed goose in North AmericaNote: stats.habitat
The page saysas then defined
The source sayswith the small-bodied subspecies now recognized as Cackling Goose ( Branta hutchinsii )Note: the 2002 species still held the small-bodied lineage, since split off as the Cackling Goose
The page saysThis is the most widely distributed goose in North America.
The source saysThe Canada Goose is the most widely distributed goose in North America
The page saysIt breeds from eastern Labrador to western Alaska, on tundra, marshes and lakeshores
The source saysIn North America, it breeds from eastern Labrador to western AlaskaNote: habitat types from Audubon
The page saysPair bonds usually form during the second year, and the young stay with their parents through their first year.
The source saysBreeders are monogamous, with life-long pair bonds formed usually during the second year. Offspring remain with their parents throughout the first year of life
The page saysOne species became two
The source sayswith the small-bodied subspecies now recognized as Cackling Goose ( Branta hutchinsii )Note: blockquote lead-in; the Canada goose was split into two species, small-bodied forms now the Cackling Goose
The page saysOne species became two Local forms of Canada goose vary greatly in size
The source saysEven with the split of these two species, the Canada Goose exhibits morphological variation in size and coloration among subspecies

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Branta canadensis. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page sayslists a maximum longevity of 42 years
The source saysMaximum longevity 42 years

Source
05

Paxinos et al. 2002

Paxinos et al. (2002). mtDNA from fossils reveals a radiation of Hawaiian geese recently derived from the Canada goose ( Branta canadensis ). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysHawaiian relatives that included a flightless giant over four times larger than the nene
The source saysOne fossil species, limited to the island of Hawaii, was related closely to the nene but was over four times larger, flightless, heavy-bodiedNote: tagline
The page saysIts Hawaiian relatives included a flightless giant
The source saysOne fossil species, limited to the island of Hawaii, was related closely to the nene but was over four times larger, flightless, heavy-bodiedNote: stats.superpower
The page saysDNA from fossils revealed a radiation of Hawaiian geese
The source saysPhylogenetic analysis of 1.35 kb of mtDNA sequence from fossils revealed a previously unknown radiation of Hawaiian geese
The page saysOnly one is still alive: the Hawaiian goose, or nene.
The source saysof which only one representative remains alive (the endangered Hawaiian goose or nene, Branta sandvicensis)
The page saysA 2002 study placed the whole group inside the Canada goose species as then defined, related most closely to its large-bodied lineage.
The source saysThis radiation is nested phylogenetically within a living species, the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) and is related most closely to the large-bodied lineage within that species.
The page saysOne fossil species on the island of Hawaii was closely related to the nene but over four times larger, flightless and heavy-bodied.
The source saysOne fossil species, limited to the island of Hawaii, was related closely to the nene but was over four times larger, flightless, heavy-bodied
The page saysThe study suggests it evolved in less than 500,000 years.
The source saysApplication of a rate calibration to levels of DNA divergence suggests that this species evolved on the island of Hawaii in less than 500,000 years.
The page saysA flightless giant cousin
The source saysOne fossil species, limited to the island of Hawaii, was related closely to the nene but was over four times larger, flightless, heavy-bodied
The page saysThe Canada goose has relatives on Hawaii.
The source saysThis radiation is nested phylogenetically within a living species, the Canada goose (Branta canadensis)

Source
06

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021

Branta canadensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22679935A166195258.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus
The page saysNo. The IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.