Snow Goose

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.

Popularity: 2%