Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Also known as:Specklebelly

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

76 cm (30") Common. Nests on Tundra, winters on marshes, wetlands and fields. Mostly seen west of the Mississippi, casual in the east. Named for the ring of white feathers around base of adult's bill. Dark headed goose with a pink or orange bill; grayish-brown upperparts; belly is variably barred with black; orange feet and legs. Flocks may contain thousands of birds.

Song: high squealed laughing bark "ka-ha" or "kla-ha-ha".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Chuq Von Rospach

Credit: Ken Schneider

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Greater White-fronted Goose

Credit: Larry Bond

Greater White-fronted Geese

Credit: Lorcan K

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Greater White-fronted Goose

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 5

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:695-greater-white-fronted-goose:1:1 Source: 695 Greater White-fronted Goose, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:695-greater-white-fronted-goose:2:1 Source: 695 Greater White-fronted Goose, row 2