Ross's Goose Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A small goose with stocky body, a rather short neck, and a stubby bill that is neatly triangular in shape.

  Relative Size

  Slightly larger than a Mallard, smaller than a Canada Goose.

  goose-sized or larger

  Measurements

  • Male
  • • Length: 23.2-25.2 in (59-64 cm)
    • Weight: 42.3-55.3 oz (1198-1567 g)
    • Wingspan: 44.5-45.7 in (113-116 cm)
  • Female
  • • Length: 22.6-24.4 in (57.3-62 cm)
    • Weight: 37.6-51.3 oz (1066-1454 g)

  © Justin Lawson / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  Adults are white with black wingtips. The bill is pink and lacks the broad black edges of the bill (known as a “grinning patch”) that Snow Geese show. Rare “blue” morphs have mostly dark bodies and wings, with a white face. Immatures are white tinged with gray and have a dark bill.

• Behavior

  Ross’s Geese spend much of the day grazing on short grasses and other vegetation, rarely digging for tubers as Snow Geese do. They nest in vast, dense colonies with Snow Geese, where they defend small territories. After nesting, they move to traditional molting areas and become flightless for several weeks before migrating southward.
• Habitat

  Ross’s Geese nest in low arctic tundra, especially on islands; they forage in wetlands, meadows, and agricultural fields. At night, wintering birds roost with other geese on lakes, reservoirs, or wetlands.