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Ross's Goose - BirdForum Opus

(Redirected from Anser rossii)
Photo by fugl
Reno, Nevada, USA, December 2004
Anser rossii

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.

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.

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

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.

Taxonomy

Monotypic.[1]
Formerly placed in the genus Chen.

Habitat

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

Behaviour

Diet

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

Its diet includes fresh grass and grains.

Breeding

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.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

External Links

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