Ross' Goose

Chen rossii

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Identification

Field notes

58 cm (23") Rare. Tundra in summer, winters in fields, wetlands. Small duck-sized short-necked white goose with a stubby pink bill and pink feet. Black wing tips are prominent in flight. Very rare "blue" phase has dark body and wings, white face and belly, pink bill. Sometimes Ross' Geese mingle with Snow Geese. Larger Snow Goose has a longer neck, flatter head and black "lips" or ridges on its bill.

Song: higher pitched less musical honking than Snow Goose.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Credit: Mike Baird

Credit: Jamie Chavez

Credit: Chuq Von Rospach

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Ross's Goose

Credit: militaryairshows

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

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

Ross' Goose

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour were the WING TIPS ?: Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white)
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:697-ross-goose:1:1 Source: 697 Ross' goose, row 1

Ross' Goose (Blue Phase)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour were the WING TIPS ?: Black or dark gray · 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 ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the NECK ?: Blue · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:698-ross-goose-blue-phase:1:1 Source: 698 Ross' Goose (Blue Phase), row 1