Canada geese use not only body movement to communicate with one another; studies have shown that they also use at least 10 different sounds (vocalizations).

Such communication can be seen before a family is about to take flight. The male goose tosses his head up and down and makes long, deep honking sounds indicating it's time to go. While the male typically says when, the female lifts off first to lead the way. The male follows behind and guards the rear.

In Canada goose communities, geese with large families form the top of the social structure, followed by smaller families, then by mated pairs, then single adults and yearlings.