How to Identify a Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
Quick answer
Snow Goose, Anser caerulescens: 5 field marks, size, habitat and range, and how to tell it from Ross's Goose, quoted from Audubon, Ducks Unlimited and USFWS.
Updated 2026-09-10 · Sources: Ducks Unlimited, Audubon
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Download on the App StoreWhat are the key facts?
- Scientific name: Anser caerulescens
- Group: Geese
- Size: Length 2 ft 1 in-2 ft 6 in (64-79 cm); wingspan 4 ft 5 in-5 ft 5 in (1.3-1.7 m); weight 3 lb 8 oz-6 lb 10 oz (1.6-3.0 kg)
- Habitat: Arctic tundra in summer, usually within 5 miles of the coast near lakes or rivers; marshes, grain fields, ponds, and bays in migration/winter
- Range in North America: Breeds on Arctic tundra in Alaska and northern Canada; migrates through and winters across the Great Lakes, Plains, and coastal US
Field marks to check on a Snow Goose
- Body pattern: White morph: all white except gray primary coverts and black primaries (wingtips); bill and feet rose-red
- Bill: Both morphs: bill shows a notable dark 'grin patch' along the tomia (cutting edge), a key mark separating it from Ross's Goose
- Body pattern: Blue morph ('Blue Goose'): gray body and wings with a contrasting white head
- Wing patch (speculum): Both morphs: black wingtips visible in flight along with pink legs
- Body pattern: Immature white morph is grayer overall; immature blue morph is mostly dark brown with a dark bill and legs
Snow Goose vs Ross's Goose
Ross's Goose is smaller than Snow Goose and lacks the dark 'grin patch' on the bill; blue-morph Ross's Geese are rare but separated the same way by size and bill pattern
Where and when to look
Arctic tundra in summer, usually within 5 miles of the coast near lakes or rivers; marshes, grain fields, ponds, and bays in migration/winter Breeds on Arctic tundra in Alaska and northern Canada; migrates through and winters across the Great Lakes, Plains, and coastal US
How to photograph it for identification
Shoot from water level if you can, with the sun behind you, so head pattern and the wing patch show their true colors. Get one frame with the bird side-on and one as it stretches or flaps, which exposes the speculum and belly. Note who it is swimming with; ducks flock by species. The app names the likely species; confirm with the marks above, and check the female separately, since females of many ducks look alike.
FAQ
What does a Snow Goose look like?
White morph: all white except gray primary coverts and black primaries (wingtips); bill and feet rose-red Both morphs: bill shows a notable dark 'grin patch' along the tomia (cutting edge), a key mark separating it from Ross's Goose
How do I tell a Snow Goose from a Ross's Goose?
Ross's Goose is smaller than Snow Goose and lacks the dark 'grin patch' on the bill; blue-morph Ross's Geese are rare but separated the same way by size and bill pattern
How big is a Snow Goose?
Length 2 ft 1 in-2 ft 6 in (64-79 cm); wingspan 4 ft 5 in-5 ft 5 in (1.3-1.7 m); weight 3 lb 8 oz-6 lb 10 oz (1.6-3.0 kg)
Where are Snow Gooses found?
Breeds on Arctic tundra in Alaska and northern Canada; migrates through and winters across the Great Lakes, Plains, and coastal US
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Sources
- Ducks Unlimitedwww.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/snow-goose
- Audubonwww.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/snow-goose
Compiled by the BirdLens editorial team
Every fact on this page is taken from the sources listed above; numbers and prices are copied from the source, and prices name the guide or auction and its date. Research and drafting were assisted by AI, and each claim was then checked against the cited sources. Checked 2026-09-10. We do not buy, sell or grade items; the app identifies what you photograph and points you to these references.