Snow goose squawking

by Bryan Keil

Title

Snow goose squawking

Artist

Bryan Keil

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Snow Goose in flight, Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. Snow Goose the Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens), also known as the Blue Goose, is a North American species of goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The genus of this bird is disputed. The American Ornithologists' Union and BirdLife International place this species and the other "white geese" in the Chen genus, while other authorities follow the traditional treatment of placing these species in the "gray goose" genus feral breeder. Snow Geese are visitors to the British Isles where they are seen regularly among flocks of Barnacle, Brent and Greenland White-fronted geese. There is also a feral population in Scotland from which many vagrant birds in Britain seem to derive. Outside of the nesting season, they usually feed in flocks. In winter, snow geese feed on leftover grain in fields. They migrate in large flocks, often visiting traditional stopover habitats in spectacular numbers. Snow Geese often travel and feed alongside Greater White-fronted Geese; in contrast, the two tend to avoid traveling and feeding alongside Canada Geese, which are often heavier birds. Long-term pair bonds (they mate for life) are usually formed in the second year, although breeding does not usually start until the third year. Females are strongly philopatric, meaning they will return to the place they hatched to breed.
This goose was in flight over the planted corn at Bosque del Apache New Mexico.

Uploaded

March 4th, 2013

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