- Anser rossii
Identification
54-67cm. White, black primary feathers, grey-based red-orange bill. Pink legs and feet. Occurs rarely in a dark phase. North America's smallest goose.
Similar species
The similar Snow Goose has a longer neck and bill with a grin patch. Both species are commonly seen together in big mixed flocks.
Distribution
Breeds in northern Canada (mainly in Nunavut). Winter grounds are in the southern United States and in northern Mexico.
Vagrants have been recorded in Europe.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.[1]
Formerly placed in the genus Chen.
Habitat
Low arctic tundra, on islands in shallow lakes. Winters in agricultural fields and shallow wetlands.
Behaviour
Diet
Its diet includes fresh grass and grains.
Breeding
Its nest is a scrape in the ground lined with plant material and down feathers. 2-6 white eggs are laid and incubated by the female.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
