Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) is a common ducks, swans, and geese found in 40 countries, weighing about 2.6 kg. The snow goose is a species of goose native to North America.
About the Snow Goose
The snow goose is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed in the genus Chen, but is now typically included in the "gray goose" genus Anser.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The snow goose has two color plumage morphs, white (snow) or gray/blue (blue), thus the common description as "snows" and "blues". White-morph birds are white except for black wing tips, but blue-morph geese have bluish-gray plumage replacing the white except on the head, neck, and tail tip. The immature blue phase is drab or slate-gray with little to no white on the head, neck, or belly. Both snow and blue phases have rose-red feet and legs and pink bills with black tomia ("cutting edges"), giving them a black "grin patch". These colors distinguish the species from white domesticated geese.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Watch the Snow Goose on live cams
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Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Snow Goose?
- The snow goose has two color plumage morphs, white (snow) or gray/blue (blue), thus the common description as "snows" and "blues". Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Snow Goose?
- The Snow Goose is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.6 kg.
- Where can you see a Snow Goose?
- The Snow Goose occurs in 40 countries, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Mexico.
- What birds look similar to a Snow Goose?
- The Snow Goose is most easily confused with the Greater White-fronted Goose, the Pink-footed Goose and the Ross's Goose.
- Is the Snow Goose endangered?
- The Snow Goose is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Snow Goose for real
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