Geese in Maryland are a common sight, particularly in the spring and fall when they migrate through the state. While some geese remain in Maryland year-round, most migrate south for the winter.
Head to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to experience thousands of snow geese will congregating in marshes, agricultural fields, and on the lake.
What Geese Are in Maryland?
There are four species of goose and three species of swans in Maryland.
- Canada Goose
- Snow Goose
- Cackling Goose
- Greater White-fronted Goose
Swans living in Maryland include the Tundra Swan, Trumpeter Swan and Mute Swan.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
The Canada goose is the most common goose species in North America. These birds are easily recognizable thanks to their black heads and necks, white chins, and brown bodies.
- Scientific Name: Branta canadensis
- Height: 75 to 110 cm (30 to 43 in)
- Wingspan: 127–185 cm (50–73 in)
- Weight: Usual: 2.6–6.5 kg (5.7–14.3 lb); Average: 3.9 kg (8.6 lb)
Canada Goose Description
Canada goose is a large water bird that has a black head and neck, white cheeks, and a brownish-gray body. They have webbed feet and can be seen on lakes, ponds, and rivers throughout the United States in summer.
Canada Goose Sound
Canada Goose Habitat & Range
Their habitat includes grasslands, marshes, open woodland areas, and agricultural fields including cornfields where they eat the seeds on the ground.
They are often found near lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and open fields where they feed on grasses, aquatic plants, small animals, insects, and grain crops.
Canada Goose Diet
Canada geese are popular game birds; they are also used for their feathers and leather. Their diet consists mainly of plant material including grasses and grains, but occasionally insect larvae and worms.
Canada Goose Nesting
Canada geese typically mate for life and often return to the same nesting site year after year. These birds build their nests on the ground, near water sources such as lakes or ponds.
During the nesting season, female Canada geese will lay between three and eight eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the goslings will stay with their parents until they are ready to migrate in the autumn.
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
The Snow Goose is one of the most abundant geese in North America, and has been hunted heavily for its meat by humans for centuries; its population has declined significantly since the 1960s due to hunting pressure and habitat loss caused by human activity. These birds are also known to migrate long distances, often flying over 2000 miles in a single journey! They are very social animals, and can be found in flocks of thousands during migration season.
- Scientific Name: Anser caerulescens
- Height: 64 to 79 cm (25 to 31 in.)
- Wingspan: 135 to 165 cm (53 to 65 in)
- Weight: 2.05 to 2.7 kg (4.5 to 6.0 lb)
Snow Goose Description
The snow goose is a large waterfowl that has white plumage with black wingtips and is a species of goose native to North America, the tundra, and grasslands. It has a black neck, white cheeks, and a pale gray belly. It also has a black bill with a yellow tip. Its feet are orange to dull greenish yellow. They are large birds, averaging between 3.2-4.9 kg and often exhibit black bars on their wings and a white patch on the rump.
Snow Goose Sound
Snow Goose Habitat & Range
These birds are capable of flying for long distances without getting rest. It is one of the few species that can fly non-stop for 3,000 miles without stopping for rest or food.
They are mostly found in the Arctic areas, including North America, Greenland and Canada, where their numbers have increased in recent years due to conservation efforts to protect them from extinction.
They migrate south during the winter months when food supplies are scarce.
Snow Goose Diet
They have been known to eat a variety of foods including seeds, roots and tubers as well as insects, snails and small fish. The Snow Goose is one of the few species of geese that have been observed using tools to help them catch prey. They have been seen using sticks or stones as weapons or shields when hunting for food!
They can also dive underwater to get food which means they don’t need to eat on land all the time like other birds do (they can just swim around until they find something they like).
Snow Goose Nesting
Snow geese are known to mate for life. A male will typically find two or three females depending on his age and experience level as a hunter-gatherer type personality. A female may lay up to 14 eggs at once but usually, only 1 or 2 survive because of predators such as other birds like raptors and even humans who hunt them down during hunting season!
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
Once considered part of the Canada Goose species, this has now been classified as a distinct species in its own right. It’s high pitched voice distinguishes it from the Canada goose which has a much lower pitched honk.
- Scientific Name: Branta hutchinsii
- Height: 24.8–25.6 in (63–65 cm)
- Wingspan: 43 inches
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
Cackling Goose Description
Very similar to the Canada Goose, but they have rounder heads and shorter bills. On the dark coast the birds are darker than those found on the east coast. The head is black with a white chin or neck strap, with a greyish brown body and black legs, feet and bill.
Listen to Cackling Goose
Cackling Goose Habitat and Range
The Cackling Goose’s breeding habitat is wet meadows near lakes or ponds where they feed on grasses, sedges, and other plants. They nest on the ground in areas that are often flooded by water during the spring months.
In the late summer months when the breeding season has ended, cackling geese will migrate southward towards warmer climates in order to escape cold weather conditions found further north.
Cackling Goose Diet
Cackling Geese are omnivores which means they eat both plants as well as seeds, roots, small animals such as insects or worms, and grasses during the summer months, and crustaceans such as clams or snails. However, their main source of food comes from grazing on grasses along marshes or fields which can be found near large bodies of water such as lakes or rivers.
Cackling Goose Nesting
Only females incubate the eggs (laying between 2-8) and the goslings leave the nest within 24 hours, and fledge at 6 weeks, though they stay with the family for migration.
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
The Greater White-fronted goose is named after the white patch at the top of its bill. These are medium-sized geese. It is named for the patch of white feathers bordering the base of its bill. In fact, albifrons comes from the Latin albus “white” and frons “forehead”.
- Scientific Name: Anser albifrons
- Height: 64–81 cm (25–32 in)
- Wingspan: 130–165 cm (51–65 in)
- Weight: 1.93–3.31 kg (4 lb 4 oz – 7 lb 5 oz)
Greater White-fronted Goose Description
The Greater White-fronted Goose is a dusky-brown goose with a long, thin neck and a small bill. It is characterized by its white belly and white patch on its face with orange legs. The bill is pinkish or orange with a white tip.
Listen to Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose Habitat & Range
The Greater White-fronted Goose is native to the northern hemisphere in North America and Eurasia. They are found in open areas such as grasslands, wetlands, taiga, arctic tundra, and alpine meadows, pond edges and lakeshores during the summer months and migrate south for the winter months. They prefer to nest on tundra or lakeshores but will nest on rocky beaches if necessary.
The Greater White-fronted Goose can be found in the Arctic tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are migratory birds that breed in Canada, the United States, Iceland, and Greenland. In the winter they migrate south to Northern Africa and southern Europe.
Greater White-fronted Goose Diet
They prefer grassy areas with some water nearby for food sources but can also adapt to other habitats. They also feed on plants such as sedges, grasses, rushes and other aquatic plants as well as insects such as beetles and spiders that live in these habitats. They also eat insects such as moths and worms as well as small frogs or fish.
Greater White-fronted Nesting
The population of Greater White-fronted Geese is estimated at around 10 million birds worldwide which makes them one of the most abundant geese species! They lay 5-6 cream colored eggs in grassy sections.
Are There Any Resident Flocks of Geese In Maryland?
In Maryland, Canada geese can be found in a variety of habitats, including parks, golf courses, and even urban areas.
The Canada goose is the most common type of goose in Maryland, but there have been a few flocks of resident snow geese in the state.
Hunting Geese in Maryland
In Maryland, anyone 16 years of age or older must have a Maryland hunting license, Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly referred to as a hunting license, to hunt brant, coots, ducks and geese.
Can You Shoot a Goose in Maryland?
Yes, you can shoot geese in Maryland as long as you follow the state regulations.
A non-toxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl and coots. This means that you cannot use or possess lead shots while hunting.
You also are limited to using a nontoxic shot that is size number T (0.20 inches in diameter) or smaller.
Any non-toxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be legal to possess and use in Maryland.
These are Maryland’s daily bag and possession limits on geese:
| Dates | Daily Bag | Possession | |
| Brant | Nov. 16–Nov. 25 Dec. 15–Jan. 31 | 2 | 6 |
| Early Resident Canada Goose | EASTERN ZONE – Sept. 1–15 WESTERN ZONE – Sept. 1–24 | 8 | 24 |
| Migratory Canada Goose (Atlantic Population) | Dec. 17–Jan. 2 Jan. 13–Jan. 31 | 1 | 3 |
| Late Resident Canada Goose Season | Nov. 19–Nov. 25 Dec. 12–Mar. 7 | 5 | 15 |
| Light Goose Statewide Season | Oct. 1–Nov. 25 Dec. 12–Jan. 31 Feb. 4 | 25 | none |
| Light Goose Conservation Order Season | Nov. 28–Dec. 10 Feb. 1–Feb. 3 Feb. 6–Apr. 15 | none | none |
Where Can I Hunt Geese in Maryland?
If you’re looking to do some goose hunting in Maryland, there are a few great places to try. The Eastern Shore is a popular spot, with plenty of wide open spaces perfect for setting up a blind.
Millington WMA is another great option, with over 4,000 acres of woods and fields to explore.
Sassafras NRMA is a bit smaller, but it’s still a great place for bird hunting.
Finally, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful spot for nature lovers, and it just so happens to be home to a large population of geese.
Geese hunting locations in Maryland depend on the goose species as well as the season. You can check the complete list of geese hunting spots in Maryland here.
Conclusion on Geese in Maryland
If you’re looking for an interesting way to spend a day outdoors, take a walk around one of Maryland’s many parks and see if you can spot any geese or swans.
Who knows, maybe you’ll even be able to identify the different types!
