General Description: Cackling Geese (Branta hutchinsii) are small, sexually monomorphic geese that look like small versions of Canada Geese. The body is dark brown above, lighter below and the belly is white; the long neck, head, and bill are black, and the chin is white. The outside of the eyelids are white, so it looks like the eyes are open when the bird is sleeping. The bill is quite small compared to the larger Canada Goose, and they usually have a white neck collar mark.

Taxonomy: Anseriformes, Anatidae, Anserinae

Favored Habitat: Ponds in the tundra and coastal marshes and shorelines.

Where to Find: Don't look for Cackling Geese around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them in the high arctic during summer or on trips to the central valleys of California and Oregon during winter. Disjunct populations also winter in southern New Mexico and along the Gulf Coast.

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