Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 2.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Anser
- Species caerulescens
Where it lives
Northeastern Siberia through northern Alaska (USA) and northern Canada to northwestern Greenland
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.6 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Snow Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Snow Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA ne Siberia through n Alaska (USA) and n Canada to nw Greenland.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.6 kg, with a wing length of about 41.2 cm and a tail of around 12.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 582,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Snow Goose?
The Snow Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 2.6 kg.
Where does the Snow Goose live?
The Snow Goose is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA ne Siberia through n Alaska (USA) and n Canada to nw Greenland, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Snow Goose belong to?
The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Snow Goose eat?
The Snow Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Snow Goose migrate?
The Snow Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Snow Goose endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Snow Goose make?
4 real field recordings of the Snow Goose — including its call, alarm call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Snow Goose's range?
The Snow Goose has a mapped global range of about 582,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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