About Emperor Geese
Emperor geese are small and stocky with barred blue-gray feathers on their body, with white heads and tail feathers. They have a short pink bill and orange legs. Males are very slightly heavier than females but are otherwise similar.
They are monogamous and will mate for life until one of them dies. Will make a nest out of dead plant material and down and lay an average of 4 to 6 creamy-white eggs, sometimes in other females’ nests. Females incubate eggs for 24 to 27 days. Goslings leave the nest in less than a day to follow the parents and can walk and swim within hours after hatching. The young fledge in 50 to 60 days. They sexually mature at 3 to 4 years old.
They are less vocal than other species of geese but will call when in large groups during migration. If threatened, they will call or hiss and charge the individual. Parents are very protective of their young, using vocal and physical threats to deter predators. Males will act as decoys to lure them away from their nesting site. They will also retreat to a nearby body of water for safety.
Emperor Goose at the Akron Zoo
Emperor geese live in the Legends of the Wild area at the Akron Zoo. They reside in the mixed-species habitat, along with tufted deer and red-breasted geese.