AppearanceBlack head and neck with a distinctive white chinstrap patch. Brown body, pale breast, and white undertail. Large, heavy-bodied silhouette in flight with long neck extended.HabitatLakes, ponds, rivers, bays, parks, golf courses, and agricultural fields. Suburban 'resident' populations have adapted completely to life among humans.BehaviourFlies in iconic V-formation — the birds rotate the lead position to share the aerodynamic drag. Loud, resonant honking carries over long distances. Highly territorial near nests; will aggressively charge humans and animals that approach.SeasonalityNorthern populations migrate; suburban populations are largely non-migratory. Year-round sight in parks across much of temperate North America.RangeNorth America from the Arctic to the Gulf Coast. Introduced and now resident across parts of Europe, New Zealand, and Chile.