Bird Guide

Ross's Goose vs Taiga Bean Goose

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
Taiga Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)

Taiga Bean Goose

Anser fabalis

Huge2.8 kgWetland

The length ranges from 68 to 90 cm (27–35 in), wingspan from 140 to 174 cm (55–69 in) and weight from 1.7–4 kg (3.7–8.8 lb). In the nominate subspecies, males average 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) and females average 2.84 kg (6.3 lb). The bill is black at the base and tip, with an orange band across the middle; the legs and feet are also bright orange. The upper wing-coverts are dark brown, as in the white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and the lesser white-fronted goose (A. erythropus), but differing from these in having narrow white fringes to the feathers. The voice is a loud honking.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

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