What are white and white-fronted geese?

How do white fronted geese make nests?

Female Greater White-fronted Geese make a scrape in the ground and weave in surrounding grasses and sedges to form a bowl. They line the nest with plant material and down feathers. White to tan, stained during incubation. Covered with down and eyes open. Leaves nest within 24 hours of hatching.

What does a greater white-fronted goose’s Bill look like?

Their bills tend to be thickened at the base behind the nostrils. Compare this face with a real Greater White-fronted Goose and you’ll see a quite different profile.

What are white-fronted geese?

The ‘white-fronted geese’ comprise two species: Greater White-fronted Goose and Lesser White-fronted Goose. The subspecies taxonomy of the former has long been controversial, but only two taxa are of real relevance in Britain: Russian and Greenland White-fronted Goose.

Where can I see greater white-fronted geese?

From February through May and again from September through November look for Greater White-fronted Geese foraging in agricultural fields or resting on lakes and ponds. The winter months in California, Texas, and Louisiana are also good.

Do white fronted geese fly in groups?

Both juveniles and adults have orangish legs. Greater White-fronted Geese forage in groups in agricultural fields and on lakes, often with other geese. They are frequently the first to flush when disturbed and fly in circles before coming back down. During migration groups fly in “V” formation or in single file.

Where can I find the latest sighting details for Russian white-fronted goose?

The latest sighting details and map for Russian White-fronted Goose are only available to our BirdGuides Ultimate or our BirdGuides Pro subscribers. Please login or subscribe to view this information.

What kind of bird has a white patch on its head?

Adults have a large white patch at the front of the head around the beak and bold black bars on the belly. The legs are orange and Siberian birds have pink bills, while Greenland birds have orange bills. This species does not breed in the UK.

How much does a Canadian geese weigh?

Being the largest of all its subspecies, the Canadian Geese are migratory birds with their migration routes ranging up to northern Europe. An average Canadian Geese weighs from 3.2 to 6.5 kg for males and 2.5 to 5.5 for females.

What kind of Bill does a grey goose have?

This large, bulky gray goose has dull-pink legs and an orangish-pinkish bill. It is overall brownish-gray, including the head. The plumage of these birds is plain brown or gray. At the end of the bill is a thin white rim. It also has many dark marks on its belly.

What are the characteristics of the greylag bird?

The large size and pale feathers of the greylag distinguish it from other Anser geese. The heavy bill is orange and the legs are pink. It has very pale upperwings in flight.

Do greylag geese intergrade with other species?

The two subspecies intergrade where their ranges meet. The greylag goose sometimes hybridises with other species of goose including the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) and the Canada goose (Branta canadensis), and occasionally with the mute swan (Cygnus olor).

Where can I find the latest sighting details for lesser white-fronted goose?

The latest sighting details and map for Lesser White-fronted Goose are only available to our BirdGuides Ultimate or our BirdGuides Pro subscribers. Please login or subscribe to view this information.

Where have Russian white-fronted geese been in the UK?

This map, showing all first reports of Russian White-fronted Geese in south-east England since Sunday 29 November, demonstrates the extent of the influx. On Monday 30th, heavy fog in many areas of south-east England resulted in a major fall of birds, with many inland records.

What does a Russian White Front goose look like?

This is a medium-to-large goose with a relatively square-looking head and a rather short, triangular bill. Adult Russian White-fronts have a small white ‘front’ (actually the forehead) and highly variable black belly barring.

How can you tell the gender of a Canada goose?

Both sexes look alike with the male being 10% larger. Canada Geese usually roost on the water and will sleep there taking turns to be on the lookout for predators. When a goose feels threatened it will stretch out its neck and honk loudly. It may also hiss, bite, and slap at the perceived threat with its wings.

What is the difference between a Canada goose and a canadensis?

Very large, appearing rather pale overall, especially on underparts, white on cheeks tends to extend somewhat farther up sides of head than on canadensis. B. c. moffitti – Moffitt’s or Great Basin Canada Goose – Similar to maxima in size and color, may have white markings on forehead, intermountain birds may have dark throat stripe.

What is a cackling goose?

They are a common species, after all, with a distinctive look: large, muddy birds with long, black necks and prominent white chinstraps and cheeks. But before you turn your back on the flock, take a closer scan. There might be a rarer bird hiding among them: the Cackling Goose.

Are Canada geese bigger than mallards?

Cacklings are small; some are barely larger than a Mallard. In contrast, the largest Canada Goose can weigh twice as much as a Cackling Goose. But size varies, and some smaller Canada Geese (females and immature birds especially) can stay nearly as compact as their estranged counterparts.

How much does a Canada geese weigh?

The Canada Geese measure between 29.9 – 43.3 inches (76 – 110 cm) in length (including the tail) and have a wingspan of 50–71 inches (127 – 180 cm). The male is about 10% larger than the female. He usually weighs between 7 – 14 pounds (3.2 – 6.5 kg) and the female weighs 5.5 – 12 pounds (2.5–5.5 kg).

Can domestic geese interbreed with Wild Geese?

As the domestic goose is a subspecies of the greylag goose they are able to interbreed, with the offspring sharing characteristics of both wild and domestic birds. The greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser, but is more lightly built and agile than its domestic relative.

What is the taxonomy of a greylag goose?

Greylag goose Taxonomy. Anser anser, the greylag goose, is a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It was first described by the… Description. The greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser, but is more lightly built and… Distribution and habitat. This species

What is the taxonomic classification of a greylag?

It belongs to the subfamily Anserinae, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). It nests in temperate regions and winters from Britain to North Africa, India, and China. The greylag is pale gray in colour, with pink legs; the bill is pink in the eastern race, orange in the western.

What does a greylag bird look like?

The greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser, but is more lightly built and agile than its domestic relative. It has a rotund, bulky body, a thick and long neck, and a large head and bill. It has pink legs and feet, and an orange or pink bill with a white or brown nail (hard horny material at tip of upper mandible).

What type of animal is a greylag goose?

Greylag, (Anser anser), also called greylag goose, greylag also spelled graylag, most common Eurasian representative of the so-called gray goose and ancestor of all Occidental domestic geese. It belongs to the subfamily Anserinae, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes).

What does a greylag geese look like?

The greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser, but is more lightly built and agile than its domestic relative. It has a rotund, bulky body, a thick and long neck, and a large head and bill. It has pink legs and feet, and an orange or pink bill with a white or brown nail…