Bird Guide

Pink-footed Goose vs Ross's Goose

Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)

Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchus

Huge2.6 kgGrassland

It is a medium-sized goose, 60–75 cm (24–30 in) long, the wingspan 135–170 cm (53–67 in), and weighing 1.8–3.4 kg (4.0–7.5 lb). It has a short bill, bright pink in the middle with a black base and tip, similar in pattern to tundra bean goose but pink where that species is orange, and pink feet. The body is mid-grey-brown, the head and neck a richer, darker brown, the rump and vent white, and the tail grey with a broad white tip. The upper wing-coverts are of a somewhat similar pale bluish-grey as in the greylag goose, and the flight feathers blackish-grey.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Bart Vastenhouw · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Kalvin Chan · CC BY 4.0
Ross's Goose (Anser rossii)

Ross's Goose

Anser rossii

Huge1.6 kgWetland

Ross's goose has a rounded head above a short neck. The bill is short and triangular and has a bluish base with warty structures that increase in prominence with age. Adults are identified by all-white secondary feathers, while juveniles' are dark centered. Females average 6% smaller than males. Legs begin as olive gray on goslings and turn deep red as they mature.No geographic variation or identified subspecies is known. Related species include other Anser geese, particularly the lesser snow goose, where the two mtDNA lineages imply frequent hybridization.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Andrew Cannizzaro, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Cannizzaro · cc-by

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Pink-footed Goose and Ross's Goose.