Greater White-fronted Goose


	Greater White-fronted Goose
	Anser albifrons

Breeding across the tundra from Nunavut to Siberia, across Russia, and in Greenland, the Greater White-fronted Goose has one of the largest ranges of any species of goose in the world. In North America, however, it is common only west of the Mississippi River, where it is found in large flocks in wetlands and croplands.

Interesting Information

The Tule goose is a large, dark subspecies of the Greater White-fronted Goose. This form breeds just around Cook Inlet in Alaska, and numbers only about 7,500. It winters in the Sacramento Valley of California, where it meets the more widespread subspecies. The Tule goose uses primarily marshes while the other form forages in open fields.
As is true of many geese, Greater White-fronted Goose pairs stay together for years and migrate together, along with their offspring. White-front family bonds can last longer than in most geese, and some young stay with their parents through the next breeding season. Parent and sibling associations may continue throughout their lives.
A smaller, but very similar goose is found in northern Asia and Europe. It is known as the Lesser White-fronted Goose and is the reason our goose is known as the "Greater." Dwarf species seem to have appeared repeatedly in geese. Other similar pairs are the Ross's and Snow geese and Cackling and Canada geese.
The Greater White-fronted Goose subspecies that breeds in Greenland usually winters in Ireland and Scotland. It occasionally turns up on the East Coast of North America. It is slightly larger than the typical American form, and has a brighter orange (less pink) bill, but telling them apart definitively is difficult.

Description

Adult Description

Medium-sized goose.
Body gray-brown.
Forehead and base of bill white.
Bill pinkish or orange.
Variable amount of black mottling on belly.
Length Range: 66-86 cm (26-34 in)
Weight: 3599 g (126.98 oz)
Size: Large (16 - 32 in)
Color Primary: Brown
Underparts: Dark gray-brown, with heavy mottling and barring.
Upperparts: Dark gray-brown
Back Pattern: Barred or banded
Belly Pattern: Barred or banded, Scaled or scalloped
Breast Pattern: Barred or banded, Scaled or scalloped

Sex Differences

Sexes similar.

Immature

Slightly smaller and lighter than adult. Lacks white forehead and black belly marks. Bill light pinkish. Legs yellow-orange

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

Habitat

Breeds along tundra wetlands. Winters in agricultural fields, marshes, bays, and lakes.

Behavior

Gleans grain from fields, grazes on grass, forages in shallow water by tipping-up.

Food

Seeds, grain, grasses, sedges, berries.

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Subfamily:	Anserinae
Genus:	Anser
Species:	Anser albifrons
Subspecies:	Anser albifrons albifrons
	Anser albifrons elgasi
	Anser albifrons flavirostris
	Anser albifrons frontalis
	Anser albifrons gambeli

Similar Species

The least distinctively marked of American geese. Most likely to be confused with domestic goose. Various breeds of domestic geese may have a white line behind bill, overall gray body, and orange bill and feet. Domestics lack the black belly markings, and have thicker necks and bigger bellies.
Canada Goose has black neck and head with white cheek patch.
Blue form of Snow Goose has all white head and white in the wings. Juvenile is blue-gray not brownish, and has a white, not black tail.

Bird Sound

Call a high-pitched laughing or yelping, consisting of two or three notes.

Eggs look like this

Photo taken from: ARCTOS Collaborative Collection Management Solution

	Sources Used To Construct This Page
	Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA. Ely, C. R., and A. X. Dzubin. 1994. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons). In The Birds of North America, No. 131 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

	All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use.