Description: The smallest subspecies of the three types of white geese in North America is the Ross’ goose. The Ross’ goose has black primary feathers on its wings with white feathers covering the rest of their body. Their bill is a dark pink that fades to a lighter pink and the area where their bill meets their head is bluish. Their feet and legs are a rosy pink color and their eyes are dark brown. The females are slightly smaller than the males. They have a shorter neck than that of the greater or lesser snow goose, for which they are often mistaken. Ross’ geese are differentiated from other species of snow geese in that they are smaller, beat their wings faster, and have a higher pitch to their call.

Breeding: Ross’ geese will breed in the low arctic tundra areas primarily in the Queen Maud Gulf, the southern Southampton Island, parts of Alaska, and the Western coast of Hudson Bay. They will build their nests in low lying areas with plenty of tall vegetation, in and amongst lesser snow geese. The female Ross’ geese will lay about 3 to 4 eggs per nesting season.

Migrating and Wintering: Ross’ geese are some of the very first to migrate out of their Canadian breeding territories. The primary wintering haven for Ross’ geese is the Central Valley of California, however there are growing population numbers found in some US states like Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, and part of Mexico.

Food habits: Ross’ geese tend to eat all sorts of grasses, seeds, nuts, grains, and are usually attracted to agriculture areas where there is extra wheat and barley grain from a harvest.

Description: Snow geese go through a unique two-color phase where they can be found to be a dark blue color, or their popular white (snow) color from which they get their name. Both color phases are biologically the same race of goose. The two colors does not indicate difference in species. Both males and females have a similar appearance in either phase, though the female is usually a bit smaller than the male. Their bill is a pink color with dark areas at the corners of the mouth, with a reddish pink color to their legs and feet. The dark phase lends to a white head and neck, but with a blue to gray body. When in white, they are totally white with the exception of some black tips to some feathers on their wings.

Breeding: Snow geese can be found breeding in Canadian areas such as the Queen Maud Gulf, Banks Island, Baffin Island, Hudson Bay, and other various areas in the Northwest Territories. They will build a nest in low-lying grassy areas on tundra plains, particularly in areas near the coast where rivers and oceans meet. The female will lay about 4 to 5 eggs per nesting season.

Migrating and Wintering: Snow geese use to migrate mostly from their northern breeding grounds down through the Mississippi and Pacific Flyways to spend their winter months in California’s Central Valley, and also in areas near the Gulf Coast states of Texas and Louisiana, and even parts of Mexico. They prefer areas where there is plenty of young vegetation growth in and around estuarine marshes and swamps where they can find shelter and food. They have also been found living in interior states where there is plenty of corn, rice, and other grasses abundant in states like Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

Description: Both male and female Canada geese have the characteristic black head and neck, with white patches on the sides of their heads that run from their throat to the back of their eyes. Females are noticeably smaller than their male counterparts. Their chest, stomach, and sides will be gray or brown and will fade into the black neck or be distinguished by a white ring around their neck. The back and main parts of their wings are dark brown and their hind end is dark brown or black. The bill, legs, and fee are all completely black. There are seven subspecies of Canada geese and most of them are smaller and more pale in coloration.

The subspecies names of Canada geese are Hudson Bay, Giant, Atlantic, Great Basin, Dusky, Lesser, and finally the Vancouver. The further north the subspecies nests, generally the smaller the size and also the lighter the plumage. The further west geese are found, generally the darker the coloration. The Giant Canada goose is the largest goose species on the planet and can reach upwards of 20lbs in weight. They can also live for many, many years and some Giant Canada geese can live longer than 30 years.

Breeding: Canada geese will generally nest over a wide area of inland North America and in some areas further south than other goose species. Canada geese will show many signs of a close-nit family between mates and will actually return to the same general area where they were hatched to breed. The female Canada goose will lay anywhere from 2-8 eggs.

Migrating and Wintering: Canada geese eat only vegetation matter, things like grasses, grains, berries, nuts, and seeds make up a large part of their diet. They are particularly attracted to areas near agriculture where there is plenty of extra grain/feed available. You can find them living in salt-water, brackish, or freshwater estuaries with lots of tall grasses growing nearby.

Population: Generally speaking, the populations of Canada geese are at healthier levels now than in previous years. In the early 1900′s the Giant Canada goose was nearly decimated, yet populations have rebounded to the point that they are pests in some areas. The Dusky Canada goose population has not enjoyed the same positive population numbers as the Giant Canada goose having numbers estimated at about 10,000 total. The other subspecies all show decent population numbers all over their natural nesting and migration territories.

Males: Male buffleheads have a brushy crest as well as a large white area of feathers that stretch from the back of their head to both sides of their face. The rest of their head is black with iridescent purple, bluish, and green. Their necks, chest, stomach, and sides of the body are white with a black back and backside. The tops of their wings are black and have white areas of feather that run down their wings. The bill of the male bufflehead is light blue or gray with pink legs and feet.

Females: The female buffleheads have a brown head and neck region, except for a round white area that grows from below their eyes to the bottom of their necks. The chest and side areas are dark gray and they have a black back, with a white stomach and a gray tail. The top of the wings are dark, usually brown, but with some white feathers on their wings that are black at the tips. Their bills are dark gray with gray feet and legs.

Breeding: Buffleheads mostly live in areas north of the United States, breeding in areas near Alaska and western Canada, Ontario, and Quebec. Almost the entire population breeds west of Manitoba. They frequent forested areas but nest in and around lakes and ponds that exist near temperate wooded areas. The female bufflehead will lay about 9 eggs annually.

Migrating and Wintering: Buffleheads will gather in large lakes or ponds, and even in large rivers where the water is not fast moving, and they will stay there until the water freezes. Buffleheads migrate to the eastern US from Alberta at times while other will follow the Pacific Flyway. They will concentrate their numbers near coastal areas in the winter. There is no specific region or area where they meet up for winter months.

Population: In 1992, the continent-wide breeding population was estimated at 1,390,000 birds.

Description: Male redheads have a reddish brown head and neck, with black on the base of the neck, back, and chest. The rest of their backs are dark gray and the ends of the back and tail are brownish black in color. The wings have a log of light gray and dulled gray on their primary feathers. Their legs and feet are gray and the bill is usually light blue or gray, having a black tip and a white ring around the base. A unique characteristic of the mail is the call sounds like a cat’s meow. Female redheads have a similar reddish brown head and neck that also extends to the chest and a white bit under the head. They also have a ring around their eyes and a stripe behind their eyes. The sides are a lighter brown that blends with the chest. The backs are dark and dull brown and the wings are a darker brown than those of males, though very similar to a male’s. The bill is similar as well.

Breeding: Redheads will breed in the prairie states of the US and Canada and other marshes in western states. They will nest more frequently in areas without woodlands but with lots of water that is deep enough for there to be permanent aquatic plant growth that is suitable for nest building. They are the most populace of all the diving duck species in the US. The female will typically lay about 7 to 10 eggs each season and she will very often invade the nest of a canvasback.

Migrating and Wintering: The redheads will migrate over an extensive area, moving from Canadian provinces down to states along the Gulf of Mexico. Redheads will also fly to states in the northern prairie region, areas around the Great Lakes, and even further east to the Atlantic coast and down to Florida. The majority of redheads spend their winters in south and southwest Texas and northern Mexico. The rest of the populations spend their winters in Florida, the Atlantic coast states up to New England, and even the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Food habits: Redheads will dive for food, consuming a wide variety of food types. Everything from nuts to seeds to aquatic vegetation is in their diet. They will also eat small fish, mollusks, and other various invertebrates.

Description: The common merganser has a long, slender bill that has serrated edges, a trait that separates it from all other ducks. They are some of the biggest of all duck species, but have a thinner build and other large duck species. They have a thin profile when flying and are often seen flying near the surface of the water

Males: The male common mergansers have a head and neck that is dark green, almost black. The chest, breast, and stomach are white with a hint of pink. Their backs are black and the top parts of their wings are black with some white feathers near the body. Their bill is red and their feet and legs are a dark, crimson color.

Females: The female mergansers have a reddish brown head with a tuft of feathers on top and have a white area on the bottom of their head. Their back and sides are gray with a stomach area that is white. Their bill is also red with legs and feet just like the males that are a dark red color.

Breeding: Most common mergansers will breed in areas from Alaska across much of Canada to Labrador, and from California up the Pacific coast. Those that live east of the Rocky Mountains are found in the Great Lake states and New England. Most common mergansers will build a nest in a hollow tree, cliffs, or large nest boxes, or on ground that is near rivers in wooded areas or even mountains. The female common merganser will lay about 9-12 eggs per laying season.

Migrating and Wintering: For winter months, the common mergansers will be found in areas ranging from the Atlantic coast US states and Canadian providences, from Florida up to Newfoundland. They may also be found from the Great Lake States down to the Gulf of Mexico in eastern regions, as well as along the Pacific coast states and providences.

Population: Current population numbers of common mergansers is thought to be pretty stable throughout all areas where they frequent.

Food habits: The diet of common mergansers is usually small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, and various invertebrates that are eaten by diving into the water in both marine and freshwater. During winter months, they will typically eat eel grass, but also sea lettuce and sea cabbage when available. The diet during summer months is grasses, algae, various aquatic plant life, and marine invertebrates.

Description: Ring-necked ducks have a more angled head shape, white areas on their bill, and darker wings than the female ring-necked duck. Parts of the male’s wings are similar to the females, however the female actually looks similar to a female redhead. They are smaller though with amore angled head shape too, and they have a lighter colored face. Male ring-necked ducks have an iridescent head with dark feathers that span down their neck and chest. Their stomachs and sides are light gray or white and they have a white section on the top area of their wings when folded next to their bodies. The bill is gray colored with a white trim where it meets the head and has a dark black tip.

They get their name because they have a light brown ring at the bottom of their neck. Their feet and legs are gray and blue with yellow or orange eyes. Female ring-necked ducks have brown feathers on their head with a dark black section on the top of their heads, lighter tan sides to their head, and a white ring around their eyes. They have a thing white line that runs from their eyes down their back. Their bill is gray and they have a white tip. Their neck, sides, and back are brown and they have a white stomach. Their feet and legs are grayish blue and they have dark brown eyes.

Breeding: Ring-necked ducks breed in Alaska and across northern Canadian provinces, down from Alaska to California, over through much of the mid-US states. They like grassy marshes and swamps, bogs, flooded grasslands, and areas that have forests nearby. The females will build a nest out of grass, reeds, and sticks where she will lay about 9 eggs per nesting season.

Migrating and Wintering: Most ring-necked ducks will migrate along the Central Flyway or Mississippi Flyway down to areas around the Gulf States, as well as over to some Atlantic states. For winter seasons, ring-necked ducks will live in a number of areas such as swamps, marshes, lakes, sloughs, and estuaries.

Food habits: Ring-necked ducks will dive for food where they’ll eat aquatic vegetation, nuts, seeds, grasses, bugs, mollusks, and a wide variety of marine invertebrates.

Description: The smallest of the three mergansers occurring in North America, the hooded merganser is also the only one restricted to North America. Male hooded mergansers have a large white crest surrounded by black. The top of the head, neck, and back are all black and the chest, breast, and belly are white. Wavy black lines can be seen on the tawny sides and flanks. The hindback, rump, and tail are dark brown.

The long narrow serrated bill is black. The iris is bright yellow and the legs and feet are dull yellow. Female hooded mergansers have a gray-brown head and neck with a reddish-brown crest. Gray pervades their neck, chest, sides, and flanks, and brownish-black their back, rump, and tail. The upper bill is black edged with orange and the lower bill is yellow. The legs and feet are greenish in color and the iris is brown.

Breeding: Hooded mergansers breed from southeastern Alaska, central British Columbia, and southwestern Alberta to southwestern Oregon, central Idaho, and northwestern Montana; and from central Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia south to Kansas, northern Louisiana, and northern Georgia. Hooded mergansers prefer forested wetland systems where they nest in tree cavities or nest boxes and lay an average of 9 to 11 eggs.

Migrating and Wintering: Forested wetlands, brackish estuaries and tidal creeks are preferred wintering habitats. Hooded mergansers winter along the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts, mainly from southeastern Alaska to northern Baja California, and New England to Florida and west to northern Mexico. The majority of wintering hooded mergansers occur in the Mississippi Flyway.

Population: Hooded mergansers are most common in the Great Lakes region and current information suggests a stable, possibly increasing population in some areas. However, data on population size and status are tenuous due to the secretive nature of this species. Historically populations likely suffered from habitat loss.

Feeding Habits: Hooded mergansers dive in freshwater to feed on small fishes, crayfishes, and other crustaceans, and aquatic insects.

Description: The male canvasbacks have a nutmeg, reddish colored head and neck with a black breast area, a gray back, and a black hind end with a dark tail. The sides, and stomach regions are white with wings that are gray with black feathers. The bill of the canvasback is dark and the legs and feet are blue or gray. The eyes are noticeably bright red in spring months, and less noticeable in the winter. Females have a head that is light brown with a matching neck, that fades to a darker brown chest and back. Her sides and underbelly are grayish brown and her bill is black with legs and feet that are also blue or gray.

Breeding: Canvasbacks will breed in the prairie regions of North America. They enjoy nesting areas that have water or prairie marshes that have a great deal of vegetation growing nearby, preferably tall reeds and cattails that will provide plenty of shelter and cover. They also breed in the river deltas of Alaska and Saskatchewan in Canada. The female canvasback will lay about 10 eggs. A female will often eat some of the eggs in her own nest.

Migrating and Wintering: Canvasbacks use the Mississippi Flyway for migration patterns to find their winter haven, usually in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley and mid-Atlantic state in the US. Those living in western states will use the Pacific Flyway to find wintering areas on California’s coast. The Chesapeake Bay used to be a large concentration area for canvasbacks but much of the low lying aquatic vegetation has moved or been destroyed, so populations have moved south towards the Mississippi Alluvial Valley areas. They enjoy brackish estuaries, bays, marshes and areas that lots of vegetation and invertebrate animal life for food.

Population: The canvasback population is growing back to healthier numbers after notably low populations in the 1980’s and 1990’s which were caused by loss of habitat for feeding and nesting, as well as lead poisoning from eating lead shot while feeding. Lead shot has been banned so fewer birds are suffering from this condition.