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Anser Caerulescens
One of seven American goose species, the Snow Goose is a noisy migrant that visits the Lower 48 states each winter. These beautiful birds have increased dramatically since the second half of the 20th century.
Snow Goose (white morph)
Snow Goose (blue morph)
Snow Goose in -flight
Frontal view of white-morph Snow Goose
Scientific name:
Anser Caerulescens
Other names:
Blue Goose
Family:
Ducks, geese and swansConservation status:
Green
Length:
69cm to 83cm
Wingspan:
130cm to 170cm
Weight:
1.6kg to 3.3kg
The Snow Goose is unusual in that it occurs in two distinct color morphs, namely white and blue. The more common white morph is all white except for black flight feathers on the ends of the wings, bordered by a grey wing patch. They have a pink bill and legs.
Blue Snow Geese have a somewhat misleading name. These birds have white heads and dark grey-brown bodies. Both morphs have a distinctive bill with prominent teeth-like tomia. These bill structures give the impression of a grinning bird with black teeth.
Female Snow Geese look identical to males but are generally slightly smaller. Juveniles of the white morph are easy to distinguish due to their grayer legs and bills and dusky gray plumage. Juvenile blue morph birds are entirely dark gray.
The Snow Goose could be mistaken for the Emperor Goose in the far north of Alaska or the more widespread Ross’s Goose in Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48.
Snow Geese in white-morph and blue-morph standing by the edge of the water
The Snow Goose is a medium-sized goose, smaller than the Canada Goose but larger than the Ross’s Goose. There are two recognized sub-species that differ slightly in size. The Greater Snow Goose (A. c. caerulescens) is generally larger than the Lesser Snow Goose (A. c. atlanticus).
27 to 33 inches (69 - 83cm)
3½ to 7¼ pounds (1600 - 3300 grams)
51 - 67 inches (1.3 - 1.7m)
Snow Goose stretching its wings
The Snow Goose is a noisy species, often heard before it is seen. Read on to learn more about Snow Goose calls.
The Snow Goose has a simple, dog-like honking call that may be heard at any time of day or night. Males, females, and young birds call from the water, ground, or in flight. However, the young geese have a higher-pitched voice. These vocal birds also call to gather their young, express alarm at predators, or maintain contact with their family group.
Snow Goose calling from the waters edge
Snow Geese feed primarily on grass and similar plants like rushes and sedges. They feed on various parts of the plants, including their leaves, roots, and stems. They may supplement their diet with berries when available.
Snow Geese also feed on many cultivated plant seeds in the winter. Waste grains like soybeans, corn, wheat, and rice provide an easy, energy-rich food source.
Snow Goose Goslings hatch with their eyes open and ready to explore the world. They leave the nest on their first day and forage for themselves in the company of their parents and siblings. The young birds eat grass and other vegetation like their parents but also include insects, flowers, and fruits.
Snow Goose foraging in shallow water
The Snow Goose spends part of each year in the low and high Arctic tundra, which is a notoriously inhospitable environment. Their most effective adaptation for surviving at these latitudes is migration. By flying south in the late summer and fall, these birds can avoid the worst of the harsh winter.
However, the tundra is a tough environment to survive in, even in the summer, so they arrive late and waste little time in raising their family. To stay warm, Snow Geese rely on heavy fat stores built up in the spring. They also stand on one leg while sleeping and tuck their bill under their wing to keep these bare parts insulated by their feathers.
Snow Geese nest in open, fairly flat, or rolling terrain near the coast. They spend the winter near shallow fresh and coastal waters like marshes and bays, or inland in prairies, grasslands, and agricultural fields.
The Snow Goose range covers most of North America, from the south of Greenland to the east coast of Mexico, although they breed and overwinter in isolated areas. Most Snow Geese nest in Northern Alaska, around Hudson Bay in Canada, and on the many islands of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. They also nest on Wrangel Island off the Russian coast.
Snow Geese overwinter in several disjointed areas in the Contiguous United States and neighboring Canada and Mexico. They are broadly classified as Eastern, Western, and Midcontinent populations. The various populations are most numerous in the following states:
Eastern population
Snow Geese spend most of their time on the ground, and they are surprisingly fast runners. They also spend time on the water and travel thousands of miles through the air each year on migration. These powerful birds can fly non-stop for several days and also spend a significant amount of time each day on the wing during the non-breeding season.
Snow Geese resting on the snow on a sunny winters day
Snow Geese are very numerous and steadily increasing in number. Their population has grown immensely since the 1960s, probably the result of industrialized farming and the abundance of food it provides.
Many American Birdwatchers only ever see Snow Geese as they fly overhead in huge noisy flocks on migration. They are on the move in February/March and again in October/November. Some well-known destinations to see Snow Geese include:
Wild Snow Geese are rare in the United Kingdom and less than a hundred are usually recorded each winter. They may turn up at Islay off Scotland’s west coast and the Loch of Strathberg in the northeast.
Flock of Snow Geese in-flight
Snow Geese can live for at least 26 years, and their average lifespan is estimated at approximately six years. This is a relatively long lifespan for an avian, although many young Snow Geese succumb to starvation before reaching adulthood.
Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, bears, foxes, and wolves hunt adult Snow Geese. Their eggs are vulnerable to a greater diversity of birds and mammals, including Gulls and Ravens.
Snow Geese are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They are also protected in the United Kingdom by the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Snow Geese are a secure and increasing species. They have an estimated population of about 16 million individuals and are assessed as a ‘Least Concern’ species on the IUCN Red List.
Snow Goose (blue-morph) swimming in a pond
Snow Geese nest in colonies, and females generally return to the place where they hatched. These birds nest on dry ground, usually near water but not where there is a high risk of flooding. They prefer sites with some shelter in the form of plants and rocks.
The nest starts off as a simple scrape, and the female goose will begin to lay her eggs before making many improvements. Later she lines the nest with her own feathers and various plant materials.
Snow Geese nest in the late spring and summer. They typically lay their eggs between late May and early June, right around the time when the snow begins to melt. However, arrival and laying dates vary from year to year, depending on weather conditions.
Snow Geese lay a single clutch of two to six cream-white eggs, each measuring approximately 3 ⅛ inches long and 2 inches wide (80mm x 53mm).
Snow Geese find a partner in their second winter and remain together for the rest of their lives. However, they will pair with another bird if their partner dies.
Snow Goose within thick foliage
Snow Geese defend their nesting area and their partners aggressively at the start of the nesting season. They fight by biting their opponent and striking with their wings. These fights can be severe and sometimes even end in death.
Snow Geese sleep on the ground or on water. They can sleep sitting down, floating, or standing on one leg.
Two Snow Geese adults (right) with juvenile Snow Geese (left) foraging in grassland in the river
Wild Snow Geese are highly migratory. These birds nest high up in the Arctic Circle each summer before returning to the United States for the winter. Their incredible journey can span over 3000 miles one way!
There’s much more to learn about the Snow Goose migration. Read this in-depth guide for more fascinating facts.
Snow Geese are a widespread native species in North America. Their numbers have increased dramatically since the mid-1900s, but they were always present on the continent.
Snow Geese are not native to the United Kingdom. A small number of vagrants arrive each year from their breeding grounds in Greenland, although the majority of sightings are probably escaped ornamental birds.
Snow Goose in-flight
Birdwatchers may spot the odd Snow Goose mixed in with Canada Geese, but the two do not usually migrate together.
The Snow Goose may resemble a Swan, but they are completely different birds. Swans are from the Cygnus genus, while Snow Geese are members of the Anser genus. The two differ most obviously in size, with Swans being much larger.
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