Ross's Goose
Anser rossii
Cute miniature version of Snow Goose with smaller body, shorter neck, and stubbier bill. Pay special attention to the bill: short, with a straighter border where it meets the face, a much less obvious dark “grin patch,” and often bluish-gray color at the base. Also note clean white head; Snow Goose typically has yellowish staining on face. Hybrids with Snow Goose are rare but regular; some intermediates might be best left unidentified. Dark morph Ross’s is extremely rare. Typically found in flocks, but individuals may be found with other geese species. Frequently in large mixed flocks with Snow Geese. Occurs in fields, marshes, and lakes during migration and winter; breeds on Arctic tundra.
Identification
Ross's goose have a rounded head above a short neck. The bill is short and triangular, and has a bluish base with warty structures that increase in prominence with age. Adults are identified by all-white secondary feathers, while juveniles' will be dark centered. Females average 6% smaller than males. Legs will begin as olive gray on goslings and turn deep red as they mature.<p>There is no geographic variation or identified subspecies. Related species include other Anser geese, particularly the lesser snow goose, where the two mtDNA lineages imply frequent hybridization. Two hypotheses about the evolution of Ross's goose are that they arose from a population of snow geese that were isolated by glacial advance or in a refugium that remained ice free.<p>Measurements:
Taxonomy
Ross's geese, along with other "white geese" (i.e., snow goose, emperor goose) previously belonged to the genus Chen, however, recent genetic sequencing has concluded that this genus was polyphyletic with the Anser genus, where most taxonomists now place Ross's goose and its allies. <p>Members of the Chen genus were officially transferred to Anser in the International Ornithological Committee's World Bird List version 6.3 in 2016.
- Scientific name
- Anser rossii
- Authority
- Cassin, 1861
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Anser
Range and habitat
Landscape in the central Arctic is dominated by flat plains with some rock outcrops and drumlins, wet meadows, and marshy tundra. Vegetation includes patches of dwarf birch, willow, grasses, sedges, and low-growing vascular plants including crowberry, lapland rosebay, and lousewort. Large colonies of nesting birds can cause extensive damage to plants by overgrazing.
- Breeding range
- NA : n Canada
- Non-breeding range
- s, w USA and n Mexico
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: rising.
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Thick-billed Seedeater
Crithagra burtoni
Large brown seedeater with two pale wingbars and a big, bulging bill. Varies geographically in the amount of streaking on the crown and underparts and the presence or absence of a pale forehead patch. Found in montane habitats including forest, forest edge, bamboo, and scrub. Generally inconspicuous, but will perch up to sing. The call is a high, thin “tsreep-tseet,” and the song is a complex and exuberant jumble of whistled and rattling notes. Somewhat similar to Streaky Seedeater, but larger and heavier-billed, with a much darker and less patterned head.
Green Woodhoopoe
Phoeniculus purpureus
An elongated, metallic-green-black bird with red feet and a long, decurved, red-orange bill. Juveniles have dark bills but are often in the company of adults. It flies heavily, with the long floppy, white-tipped tail dangling behind. Pairs and groups of up to 14 birds are highly social, occupying savanna, woodland, riverine forest, and gardens, where they nest and roost in natural cavities. Clambers in trees, probing bark and crevices for insects and small vertebrates. They communicate using a strong cackling chatter that sounds maniacal. The almost identical Grant’s and Violet woodhoopoes (with which it sometimes hybridizes) differ from Green Woodhoopoe only by having a coppery-purple (not glossy greenish) metallic sheen.
Barred Wren-Warbler
Calamonastes fasciolatus
Long-tailed brownish warbler. In all plumages, shows heavy barring below, but this barring is obscured by a brown band across the breast of breeding males. Generally uncommon in arid, thorny savanna. Often raises its tail in wren-like fashion. Normal song is a vibrating, metallic note that is frequently repeated. Another vocalization is a repeated two-part “gid-yup.” Similar to Miombo Wren-Warbler, but has little overlap in range and separated by dusky underparts and darker eye.
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