From Opus

Photo by fugl
Reno, Nevada, USA, December 2004

Chen rossii

[edit] Identification

54-67cm. White, black primary feathers, grey-based red-orange bill. Pink legs and feet. Occurs rarely in a dark phase. North America's smallest goose.

[edit] Similar species

The similar Snow Goose has a longer neck and bill with a grin patch. Both species are commonly seen together in big mixed flocks.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in northern Canada (mainly in Nunavut). Winter grounds are in the southern United States and in northern Mexico.
Vagrants have been recorded in Europe.

Photo by jvhigbee
Nisqually NWR, Washington, USA, November 2003

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Low arctic tundra, on islands in shallow lakes. Winters in agricultural fields and shallow wetlands.

[edit] Behaviour

Its diet includes fresh grass and grains.

Its nest is a scrape in the ground lined with plant material and down feathers. 2-6 white eggs are laid and incubated by the female.

Photo by eyebus
Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA, March 2007

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.

[edit] External Links