Snow Goose | Audubon Field Guide

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Open Search Bird GuideDucks and GeeseSnow Goose Listen 3 Snow Goose Snow Goose Anser caerulescens At a Glance Range & Identification Behavior Conservation Explore More Back to Top

At a Glance

Very localized, but abundant where they occur, Snow Geese typically are seen in large numbers or not at all. Included under this heading is the 'Blue Goose,' long considered a separate species, now known to be only a color morph of the smaller race of Snow (Lesser Snow Goose). The two color forms mate with each other, and may produce young of either or both colors. A larger race, Greater Snow Goose, nests in far eastern regions of Canada and winters on the Atlantic Coast. All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Category Duck-like Birds, Ducks and Geese IUCN Status Least Concern Habitat Coasts and Shorelines, Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Saltwater Wetlands, Tundra and Boreal Habitats Region Alaska and The North, California, Eastern Canada, Florida, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, Northwest, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, Western Canada Behavior Direct Flight, Formation, Rapid Wingbeats, Swimming Population 16.000.000

Range & Identification

Migration & Range Maps

Migrates long distances, in flocks, often flying very high. In many regions the Snows migrate along rather narrow corridors, with traditional stopover points en route.

Description

25-31" (64-79 cm). Typical adult white with black wingtips, pink-orange bill and legs. Compare to white domestic geese and ducks. Immature grayer. Blue morph (Blue Goose") has gray body and wings, white head. Immature of blue morph is mostly dark brown, with dark bill and legs; compare to White-fronted Goose. Size About the size of a Heron, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull Color Black, Brown, Gray, Orange, Pink, White Wing Shape Pointed, Tapered Tail Shape Rounded, Short, Square-tipped

Songs and Calls

A high-pitched, barking bow-wow! or howk-howk! Call Pattern Falling, Flat, Undulating Call Type Croak/Quack, Whistle

Habitat

Tundra (summer), marshes, grain fields, ponds, bays. In summer on Arctic tundra usually within 5 miles of coast, near lakes or rivers. During migration and winter in coastal marshes, estuaries, freshwater marshes, agricultural country. Greater Snow Goose often nests in higher and drier tundra, and in migration and winter is more often in saltwater habitats than Lesser Snow. Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Snow Goose Email Zip Phone (optional) By submitting my mobile number I agree to receive text messages from Audubon at 42248 about how I can help birds, including donation requests. Up to 4 msgs/month. Message and data rates may apply. Text HELP for more information. Text STOP to stop receiving messages. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Behavior

Eggs

3-5, sometimes 1-7, rarely 8. Whitish, becoming nest-stained. Incubation is by female only, 22-23 days, up to 25.

Young

Usually leave nest within a few hours after hatching; they find their own food, and are tended by both parents. Family group may travel miles on foot away from nest site. Young fledge at 42-50 days.

Feeding Behavior

forages mostly by walking in shallow water or on land. Except when nesting, usually feeds in flocks, sometimes mixed with other kinds of geese.

Diet

Almost entirely plant material. Feeds on seeds, leaves, and roots of many species of wild grasses, also of sedges, bulrushes, horsetail, others. Very young goslings may feed on insect larvae. In fall, may eat many berries. Winter flocks often feed on waste grain in agricultural fields.

Nesting

May mate for life. Usually first breeds at age of 3 years. In one courtship display, male and female face each other and stretch necks upward rapidly and repeatedly in unison. Often nests in colonies. Nest site (selected by female) usually on slight ridge or hummock, with good visibility. Same site may be used more than one season. Nest (built by female, mostly after first egg is laid) is shallow depression filled with bulky bowl of plant material, lined with down.

Conservation

Conservation Status

Population of Greater Snows was reduced to only 2,000-3,000 around year 1900, has made satisfactory recovery. Total number of Lesser Snows apparently has increased greatly in recent decades. Population may vary because of Arctic summer weather: in series of exceptionally cold summers, Snow Geese may raise very few young. Change in Abundance Over Time Drawing on more than a century of community science from the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), this chart shows how this species’ relative abundance has shifted in recent decades. Explore more and get involved in the CBC.

Climate Map

Audubon’s scientists have used 140 million bird observations and sophisticated climate models to project how climate change will affect the range of the Snow Goose. Learn even more in Audubon’s Survival By Degrees project.

Climate Threats Facing the Snow Goose

Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.

Explore More

Murals, Art, and Culture

Artists throughout history and across the U.S. have captured this bird in murals, books, and museum hangings. See what they’ve done: ¡Atención!

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