Adult white morph © Brad Imhoff eBird S77893483 Macaulay Library ML 290513131
Adult blue morph © Charles Hundertmark
Adult intermediate morph © Simon Boivin
Adult white morph © Darren Clark
Juvenile white morph © Levi Plummer
+ 6
Juvenile blue morph © Suzanne Labbé
Adult blue morph and adult white morph © Martina Nordstrand
Adult blue morph (with Canada Goose) © Fred Jennings
Adult white morph and adult blue morph © Joshua Covill
Flock © Marky Mutchler

Snow Goose Anser caerulescens

Sign in to see your badges

Identification

POWERED BY MERLIN

Medium-sized goose with two strikingly different color morphs. White morph generally more common. Adults have black wingtips, pink bill and legs, and often show yellowish staining on the head. Juveniles have dull brownish bill and legs and variable grayish smudging on body and wings. Dark morph adults are dark slaty-gray with a white face; juveniles are entirely dark. Typically found in flocks, sometimes numbering into the thousands, but individuals may be found with other geese species. Occurs in fields, marshes, and lakes during migration and winter; breeds on Arctic tundra. Compare with Ross’s Goose, which is like a cuter miniature version of Snow Goose. Pay attention to the bill: Snow Goose has a longer bill with a more curved border where it meets the face, and a more pronounced dark “grin patch” (but beware, Ross’s can show a small grin patch too!).

POWERED BY MERLIN