Cackling goose some quarters; Richard Banks of the AOU urges caution before any of Hanson's proposals are accepted. Cackling goose The cackling goose ("Branta hutchinsii") is a North American bird of the genus "Branta" of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey "Anser" species. The black head and neck with white "chinstrap" distinguish this goose from all other geese except the larger Canada goose ("Branta canadensis") and the similarly sized barnacle goose ("B. leucopsis"). There are up to 5 subspecies of cackling goose, of varying sizes and plumage details. The female looks virtually identical but
Aleutian cackling goose fall and winter on the north coast. Around late December, the geese wintering in the Central Valley begin moving north, and by mid-February, most of the Aleutian goose population is located in northwestern California until they depart for the Aleutian Islands in mid-April. As of 2004, Humboldt County began receiving the majority of Aleutian geese on the northwest coast from January through April. Aleutian cackling goose The Aleutian cackling goose ("Branta hutchinsii leucopareia"), formerly known as the Aleutian Canada goose ("Branta canadensis leucopareia"), is small subspecies of cackling goose averaging 1700 to 2100 grams in weight. It was one of