How long do Canada geese live?
The oldest Canada Goose on record lived to 42 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild Canada geese live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 42 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 2 years
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–8 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 29.9–43.3 in, 105.8–317.5 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 4
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Canada Goose can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Canada geese usually start breeding at about 2 years old. Each season a pair lays 2–8 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 25–28 days to hatch.
How Canada geese compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other ducks and geese on this site.
- Mallard29.1 years
- Wood Duck22.5 years
- Hooded Merganser15.7 years
More about Canada geese
Frequently asked
How long do Canada geese live?
The longest-lived Canada Goose on record reached 42 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild Canada geese live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Canada Goose when it first breeds?
Usually about 2 years old.
What is the oldest Canada Goose ever recorded?
42 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Canada Goose raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–8 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info