The Moffitt's Canada goose (''Branta canadensis moffitti''), also known as the Western Canada goose or Great Basin Canada Goose is a subspecies of the Canada goose. Native to the western interior of North America surrounding the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico ...

, its range has expanded due to introductions to various regions of western North America.

Description

The Moffitt's Canada goose is the second largest subspecies of Canada goose. It possesses a long neck and bill; similar to that of the slightly larger giant Canada goose (''B. c. maxima''). It can also have small, white patches found over its eyes or forehead, a trait more commonly found on ''maxima''. Their coloration is paler than that of most other subspecies but slightly darker than ''maxima'', sporting a pale gray-brown body and whiteish breast. Many individuals also have a white collar at the base of the neck. They also have large, broad

wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expre ...

Taxonomy

Though ''moffitti'' and ''maxima'' have sometimes been lumped as one subspecies, most authorities today recognize the two as distinct. The two subspecies interbreed where their ranges overlap, and introduced stocks of Canada Geese often consist of intergrades between the two subspecies.

Distribution

Moffitt's geese are known to inhabit areas as far south as

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, as northward as

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, and as east as

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

. The subspecies is represented in three distinct populations of Canada goose: the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...

Population (PP),

Rocky Mountain The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...

Population (RMP) and Hi-Line Population (HLP). The Rocky Mountain population breeds in central

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, western

, and the

Intermountain West The Intermountain West, or Intermountain Region, is a geographic and geological region of the Western United States. It is located between the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains on the east and the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada on the wes ...

down to Arizona and New Mexico, and migrates to southern part of its range as well as southern California. The Pacific Population consists of intergrades with other subspecies, including the Giant Canada Goose and Interior Canada Goose (''B. c. interior''), and is found from Northern British Columbia and Alberta south through the

Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Tho ...

towards central California and western Nevada. Though birds that breed in the northern part of this range will migrate south, a large portion of the Pacific Population consists of introduced stocks 1960s and 1970s which have consequently become non-migratory residents. They have been introduced to the Lower Mainland and

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...

, and have become year-round residents in areas where other subspecies of Canada Geese (such as the Vancouver Canada Goose ''B. c. fulva'') were once only infrequent breeders or transient migrants. The Hi-Line Population consists of both ''moffitti'' and ''maxima'', and is found in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Wyoming and Colorado and are short-distance migrants that winter in the southern part of their range towards central

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

Behavior and breeding

The Moffitt's Canada goose is often unwary and tame in the presence of people and urban settings. This includes

golf courses A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". Th ...

and other large grass fields. This bird is adapted to

ecological Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...

changes. Moffitt's geese are among the first waterfowl to nest in spring, as early as late February or early March. They typically nest in abandoned hawk and heron nests, though they may also nest at the top of tall tree stumps, as well as on the rooftop of tall buildings.

Human interaction

Due to their sedentary nature, Moffitt's Canada Geese are considered a nuisance due to their noise and droppings. In its introduced range they are sometimes considered invasive species, possibly displacing other local or migratory subspecies of Canada Geese. Hunting of the Moffitt's Canada goose is encouraged by many park managers and rye farmers. Their population has expanded in part due to the urbanization of metropolitan areas where hunting is discouraged. In cities, wildlife officers have attempted to reduce their population by addling their eggs.

References

External Links

*https://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Canadagoosesubspecies.html *http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html *http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/waterfowl/goose-permits/docs/Goosefieldguide_ch3_western.pdf *https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=E0148AC5BC098CAD {{Taxonbar, from=Q27600988 Geese Branta Waterfowl Anatidae Anseriformes