Canada geese range across northern North America, from Alaska to Labrador, and as far south as Kansas.

They are a mid-sized bird, somewhere between a duck and a swan. The largest birds weigh as much as 6kg.

During the mating season, the adults lose all their flying feathers simultaneously, becoming flightless for a few weeks. After regaining their flying feathers, families migrate in flocks to the southwestern or Pacific coastal states.

Knowledge of migratory routes and seasonal homes is passed on by the parents to the offspring during a single migration.

The movement of air by the wings of each bird makes the job of flying a bit easier for the bird behind it. The leader must do the most work. On long flights there may be several leaders who take turns.