Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons
The Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) is a common ducks, swans, and geese found in 82 countries, weighing about 2.5 kg. The greater white-fronted goose is a species of goose, closely related to the smaller lesser white-fronted goose.
About the Greater White-fronted Goose
The greater white-fronted goose is a species of goose, closely related to the smaller lesser white-fronted goose. The greater white-fronted goose is migratory, breeding in northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Russia, and winters farther south in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is named for the patch of white feathers bordering the base of its bill; its specific name albifrons comes from the Latin albus "white" and frons "forehead". In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it has been known as the white-fronted goose; in North America, it is known as the greater white-fronted goose, and this name is also increasingly adopted internationally. Even more distinctive are the salt-and-pepper…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Greater white-fronted geese are 64–81 cm (25–32 in) in length, have a 130–165 cm (51–65 in) wingspan, and weigh 1.93–3.31 kg (4 lb 4 oz – 7 lb 5 oz). They have bright orange legs and mouse-coloured upper wing coverts. They are smaller than greylag geese. The greater white-fronted goose is larger than and lacks the yellow eye ring of the lesser white-fronted goose, and its white facial blaze does not extend upwards so far as in the lesser.
What the Greater White-fronted Goose sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Morocco, Cuba, Myanmar (Burma), Egypt, Guadeloupe, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Kyrgyzstan.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Greater White-fronted Goose?
- Greater white-fronted geese are 64–81 cm (25–32 in) in length, have a 130–165 cm (51–65 in) wingspan, and weigh 1.93–3.31 kg (4 lb 4 oz – 7 lb 5 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Greater White-fronted Goose?
- The Greater White-fronted Goose is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.5 kg.
- Where can you see a Greater White-fronted Goose?
- The Greater White-fronted Goose occurs in 82 countries, including the United States, Sweden, Canada, Belgium and Germany.
- What does a Greater White-fronted Goose sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Greater White-fronted Goose on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Greater White-fronted Goose?
- The Greater White-fronted Goose is most easily confused with the Snow Goose, the Pink-footed Goose and the Ross's Goose.
- Is the Greater White-fronted Goose endangered?
- The Greater White-fronted Goose is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Greater White-fronted Goose for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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