- Anser caerulescens
Identification
- Entirely white except black primaries
- Head and neck usually stained rusty brown
- Pink bill with grin patch
- Dark adults have black bodies with white necks and heads, juveniles dark all over. All intermediates possible.
Similar Species
Separating from Ross's Goose - Snow Goose has longer neck and bill. Ross's Goose has short neck and stubby bill that lacks grin patch.
Distribution
Extreme northern Arctic in summer. Winters in Southern U.S. and Mexico, notably along coasts, but also at inland marshy reserves.
Taxonomy
There are two recognized subspecies.[1]
- A. c. caerulescens
- Breeds and winters around the Pacific Ocean
- A. c. atlanticus
- Breeds and winters on land bordering western Atlantic Ocean
Formerly placed in the genus Chen.
Habitat
Nests of Arctic tundra in large colonies. Migrates southward in winter to marshy areas with adjacent fields.
Behaviour
Highly gregarious; nest, migrate, and forage in large flocks. Noisy, especially on takeoff. Fly in large V formations.
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/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Snow Goose. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 10 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Snow_Goose
External Links
