Emperor Goose

Quick Take

• Emperor geese change color seasonally, though not for the reason you might expect. See how coloration works →
• Most goslings don't make it through their first year, as the survival odds are brutal. Check gosling survival rates →
• This goose is considered the most solitary in its entire family, and its behavior reflects that in some unusual ways. Explore solitary behavior →
• Emperor geese fly so close to the ground it looks like a mistake, but there is a reason they do it. See their low-flying migration →

The emperor goose (Anser canagicus) is native to the coastal tundra of western Alaska and eastern Russia, living near coastal lagoons and inland lakes. This attractive goose has black and white markings resembling scales and is known for its solitary and quiet nature. They produce fast wingbeats as they fly close to the ground, their wingtips almost touching the earth.

Amazing Emperor Goose Facts

• The emperor goose is a heavy-bodied bird, reaching up to seven pounds.
• They are less social than other geese, only socializing with their family members.
• Their calls sound like a nasal “kla-ha, kla-ha, kla-ha.”
• They only travel a few hundred miles during migration.

Where to Find the Emperor Goose

Emperor geese are found in the United States (Alaska) and eastern Russia, with rare vagrants occasionally reaching Canada and Japan. They breed in coastal western Alaska and eastern Russia, and winter mainly on the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula. Some travel as far south as the contiguous United States and Japan. They inhabit Arctic tundra with low vegetation during the breeding season, often near lakes and lagoons. They seek out ice-free coasts during the winter. Look for these geese flying low to the ground and foraging for food in shallow water or walking across the mud. 

Nests

They nest on shorelines on small islands and ponds, surrounded by low vegetation. The nest itself is a shallow scrape lined with down and dead plant matter.

Classification and Scientific Name

The emperor goose (Anser canagicus) belongs to the Anseriformes order in the Anatidae family, which includes ducks, geese, and swans. The Anser genus is a swan subfamily that includes waterfowl like gray and white geese. 

Size, Appearance, & Behavior

The emperor goose is a small, heavy-bodied bird, measuring 26 to 30 inches and weighing four to seven pounds, with a wingspan of about 48 to 56 inches (122–142 cm). They have stout bodies, short necks, and short wings. Adults have bluish-gray bodies with black and white scale-shaped markings, and the backs of their heads and necks are white. They also have a white chin and throat, a white tail, a pink bill, and yellowish-orange legs and feet. Their heads turn reddish-brown in summer due to staining from tidal pools with high levels of iron oxide.

The emperor is the most solitary species in the goose family. They typically only socialize with family members but may join larger flocks during the breeding season. They also make fewer vocalizations than other geese, and their calls sound like a nasal “kla-ha, kla-ha, kla-ha.” They produce fast wingbeats, but their speed is unknown.

Migration Pattern and Timing

Emperor geese are short-distance migrants, only traveling several hundred miles. They breed along Alaska’s coastline and winter in southern Alaska and occasionally in Canada and the contiguous United States.

Diet

The emperor goose is an omnivore that forages mainly on land and in shallow water.

What Does the Emperor Goose Eat?

Their diet consists of shoots, roots, berries, algae, clams, and mollusks. They primarily eat vegetation during summer and switch to clams, mollusks, and marine algae during winter. They forage on land when on their breeding grounds, grazing the new growth. During migration and winter, they search for food on mudflats and in shallow water.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

The IUCN lists the emperor goose as LC or “least concern.” Their population is undergoing a moderate increase that’s expected to continue in the future. The biggest threats to this species include hunting in Alaska, coastal oil pollution, and habitat shifts from climate change. Climate change is expected to alter nesting and brood-rearing habitat through sea-level rise, increased salinity, and coastal inundation.

What Eats the Emperor Goose?

Their natural predators include red and Arctic foxes, skuas, minks, eagles, cranes, and owls. Most predators threaten their eggs and goslings, but foxes and owls occasionally feed on adults. Both emperor goose parents defend the nest by hissing, using distraction displays, spreading their wings, and lowering their heads. If faced with imminent danger, they will become aggressive, especially the males. If trouble comes when they are near water, they will swim away. 

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

Emperor geese form monogamous pair bonds and mate for life, forming pair bonds before reaching the breeding grounds. Females lay an average of three to five white eggs and incubate them for 24 to 25 days. Their young hatch in a precocial state, meaning they can walk, swim, and feed themselves immediately. However, they do not wander far from their parents for at least two months. They are independent when they can fly, typically around 50 to 60 days old. Unfortunately, only 10% of emperor geese survive their first year. They reach sexual maturity at three to four years and live about 12 years in the wild, but they can live up to 25 years in captivity.

Population

The global emperor goose population is estimated to number 90,000 to 120,000 mature individuals. Their population is increasing throughout their range.