Snow Goose

Chen caerulescens

Also known as:Blue Goose

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

63-76 cm (25-30") Common. Tundra in summer; winters in marshes, grain fields, ponds, bays. Two distinct color phases.

White-phase is white with pink bill with black "lips"; black wing tips are prominent in flight; pink feet.

Dark-phase called "Blue Goose" has white head and upper neck, pink bill, dark gray body and wings. Smaller Ross' Goose has a shorter neck and more rounded head. Flocks may number in thousands.

Song: loud nasal "whouk" in chorus.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

6 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: TexasEagle

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

Credit: Robert Shea

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Snow Geese In Flight

Credit: Don DesJardin

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.

Snow Goose

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 9

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 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:696-snow-goose:1:1 Source: 696 Snow Goose, row 1

Snow Goose (Blue Phase)

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 3

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 ?: 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) · 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:696-snow-goose:2:1 Source: 696 Snow Goose, row 2