7 Types of Geese & Swans in Maine! (2025)

Geese are some of the largest birds you will find in Maine!

Assuming you’re near a large body of water, it shouldn’t be too hard to find at least a few different species. They are fairly common in most lakes, estuaries, wetlands, lagoons, bays, or anywhere else they can find food. Most types of geese are also regularly spotted in farm fields during the winter months, eating leftover crops.

Today, you will learn about 7 types of geese and swans that live in Maine!

For each species, I provide some fun facts along with how to identify them by sight OR sound. Make sure to pay attention to the range maps to see which of these birds live near you!

#1. Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

Large goose with a long black neck and a distinctive white cheek patch.
Brown body with a pale white chest and underparts.
Black feet and legs.

Canada Geese are extremely common in Maine.

I’m sure you probably recognize these birds, as they are very comfortable living around people and human development. Look for them wherever there are grasses or grains to eat, such as lawns, parks, farm fields, and golf courses.

Canada Goose Range Map

In fact, these geese are so abundant that many people consider them pests for the amount of waste they produce! If you have a manicured lawn maintained to the water’s edge, you have an open invitation for these birds to visit.

The Canada Goose is also easy to identify while flying overhead. If you see a flock of large birds in a V-formation, it’s most likely them. Flying this way helps conserve energy, and different birds take turns leading the way.

Canada Geese make a wide variety of loud honks and cackles. They have even hissed at me for accidentally approaching a nest too closely. Listen below!

If you’re interested, you may be able to see a Canada Goose at my bird-feeding station right now! I have a LIVE high-definition camera watching my feeders 24/7. 🙂 Look for them on the ground eating corn.

Watch my two live animal cameras HERE!

#2. Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

At first glance, the Cackling Goose looks identical to a Canada Goose! In fact, the plumage is almost exactly the same, and these two birds used to be classified as the same species.

But upon further investigation, you will find that the Cackling Goose is smaller, has a stubbier bill, shorter necks (most apparent when in flight), and a more rounded head.

Cackling Goose Range Map

Cackling Geese can be found breeding in small lakes and marshes in the arctic tundra. During migration and in winter, they are most commonly seen in agricultural fields during the day. At night, they return to large lakes or wetlands to roost.

Another way that this species can be identified from Canada Geese is by sound. Listen for the higher-pitched honking of the Cackling Goose.

#3. Brant

Branta bernicla

Black chest, head, and bill. Mostly brown body with white on the sides and underneath.
A small and compact goose with a short bill.
Distinctive white patch on the side of the neck.

Like many other goose species, Brants nest in the Arctic in wetlands. Once the weather turns cold, they migrate south.

These geese can be seen in Maine in coastal areas, where they can find aquatic vegetation to eat in sheltered bays, estuaries, and lagoons. Brants are strictly vegetarian, with eelgrass and large algae playing a large part of their diet.

Brant Range Map

While they fly overhead, listen for a “crrronk” call, which sounds guttural and is similar to a Sandhill Crane.

#4. Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

A huge white bird with a long white neck.
Look for the distinctive orange bill that features a black base and knob.

Mute Swans are among the most elegant and beautiful birds you will see in the water. They are also enormous and are one of the heaviest birds that can fly!

But did you know that Mute Swans are NOT native to Maine?

Due to their beauty, Mute Swans were imported from Europe and released in parks, large estates, and zoos. Unfortunately, these individuals escaped and have established an invasive wild population.

Don’t be fooled by their appearance; these swans can be aggressive and regularly attack kayakers and other people who get too close to their nest. They also displace native ecosystems due to their voracious appetite, which requires up to 8 pounds (3.6 kg) of aquatic vegetation daily!

Despite their name, these swans are not mute!

While relatively quiet, they make a hoarse trumpet sound when defending their territory. And if they are threatened, expect to hear various barks, hisses, and snorts.

#5. Greylag Goose

Anser anser

Greylag Geese are a soft, warm gray-brown.
Their feathers are rimmed with narrow white edges, which gives them a delicate barred pattern over their wings, chest, and sides.
The legs of Greylag Geese are pink, while their bills are bright orange.

Greylag Geese are NOT native to Maine!

These birds are found naturally across Europe and Asia, where they are very common and have a huge natural range.

Interestingly, Greylag Geese gave rise to almost all common domesticated goose breeds.

In Maine, domesticated Greylag Geese can commonly be seen on farms, estates, and in zoological collections. Occasionally, escaped birds may flourish as feral populations.

Greylag Geese are very social animals. They will almost always be found in flocks, ranging from a few birds to thousands of animals. When flying, flocks adopt the classic V-shape flight formation. Play the video to see them in action!

#6. Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchus

As their name suggests, they have pink legs and feet. They also have pink patches near the tip of their bills, which are otherwise black.
The overall coloration of pink-footed geese is a fairly unremarkable soft brown. Their chest area is a light beige, while their heads and wings are a darker chocolate.

Pink-footed Geese favor the northern hemisphere and cool climates and rarely stray from these areas. But there have been increasing reports of vagrant geese spotted in Maine!

Sightings are increasing notably along the east coast of North America. Look out for them tagging along with flocks of Canada geese.

Breeding is fairly challenging for Pink-footed Geese! Because of the threat of mammalian predators such as Arctic foxes, pink-footed geese nest on cliff faces beside the sea or in gorges.

#7. Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

Small, compact goose. Mostly white head.
A short, stubby bill that is black. Legs are black, too.

Due to their unique coloration, Barnacle Geese are easy to spot in Maine!

But Barnacle Geese are not normal visitors, as they spend most of their time in Arctic regions and other northern areas.

Luckily, their sightings in Maine have been on the rise. Look for them mixed into flocks of Canada Geese during winter. 🙂

So, do Barnacle Geese eat barnacles?

The answer is a resounding NO. They got their names long ago when people in medieval times thought these birds hatched out of barnacles!

Do you want to learn about MORE birds in Maine?

Check out these ID Guides. Each one is specific to birds found here!