Snow Goose
NameSnow Goose
Common NameSnow Goose
Scientific NameAnser caerulescens
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)150
Length (cm)72
Weight (g)2600
Plumage DetailsAdult Snow Geese (white morph) have entirely white plumage with black primary flight feathers, which are visible when the wings are folded or in flight. They have a pink bill with a distinctive black 'grinning patch' along the tomia, and pink legs and feet. Juveniles may have dusky heads and necks.
Vocalization / CallSnow Geese produce a high-pitched, nasal 'honk' or 'kow-luk' call. These calls are often given continuously by large flocks, creating a cacophony of sound.
Primary Dietgranivore
Primary Habitatstundra, grassland, wetland, coastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeSnow Geese breed in the Arctic tundra of North America and northeastern Siberia. They migrate south for the winter, primarily to temperate regions of North America, including agricultural fields, marshes, and estuaries from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts, and into Mexico.
Identifying FeaturesAll-white body with black wingtips (white morph), Pink bill with a black 'grinning patch', Pink legs and feet, Large flocks and distinctive honking calls
Description
The Snow Goose is a medium-sized goose known for its striking white plumage and black wingtips. It is a highly social and migratory species, often seen in large flocks grazing in open fields or wetlands during migration and winter.
