Snow goose

This article is about the species of goose. For other uses, see Snow goose (disambiguation).

Snow goose
White morph
Blue morph
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anser
Species:
A. caerulescens
Binomial name
Anser caerulescens
Subspecies
  • A. c. caerulescens (Lesser snow goose) (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • A. c. atlanticus (Greater snow goose) (Kennard, 1927)
Snow goose range:
  Breeding range (also in northwest Greenland and Wrangel Island, Russia; not shown)
  Wintering range
Synonyms
  • Anas caerulescens Linnaeus, 1758
  • Chen caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Anser hyperboreus Pallas, 1769
  • Chen hyperborea (Pallas, 1769)
A pair of snow geese calling

The snow goose (Anser caerulescens) is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed in the genus Chen, but is now typically included in the "gray goose" genus Anser.[2][3]

Snow geese breed north of the timberline in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and the northeastern tip of Siberia, and spend winters in warm parts of North America from southwestern British Columbia through parts of the United States to Mexico.[4] Snow goose populations increased dramatically in the 20th century.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2021). "Anser caerulescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22679896A157448765. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22679896A157448765.en. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ogilvie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kear was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mowbray et al. 2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).