Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Geese on the Nashwaak River

Greater White-fronted Goose [Internet Photo]

For the last few days (November, 2019) there have been two Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) with the flock of Canada Geese feeding along the Nashwaak River.  This species is listed as a 'casual' visitor to the area.  One of the first records was one shot at Burtts Corner in 1949.  There have been many records since.  Sibley lists it as rare here.  This species breeds in our far north; Alaska, northern Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and some of the Arctic islands and western Greenland.  They winter in Texas, Louisiana and Mexico.  They have one of the largest ranges of any species of geese in the world.  They are common only west of the Mississippi River.

The Greater White-fronted Goose is a medium-sized gray brown goose (71 cm/ 28 in long).  The adult has a white band around the bill (useful for identification), gray brown underparts and back with black barring running from the breast to the belly, white belly and vent, pinkish orange bill, and orange legs.  In our area when these birds are mixed in with the Canada Geese they can be difficult to pick out.  

There are recognized subspecies of this species including the Greenland Greater White-fronted Goose and the Taiga Greater White-fronted Goose.  It also will hybridize with the Snow Goose or the Canada Goose.  

Greater White-fronted Goose [Internet Photo]

The Greater White-fronted Goose forages in grain fields, meadows, and some marshes.  Like our Canada Goose, it roosts at night on ponds, lakes and rivers.  This species chooses marshy tundra to breed.  The nest is a depression on the ground lined with down and grass.  The 3 to 6 buff or creamy eggs are incubated by the female for 22 to 28 days.  It takes about 40 days for the young to fledge.  

These geese eat seeds, grain, and grasses and sedges.  They will also take berries and plant roots in summer.  It has been recorded that the setting female drinks the water off her feathers to stay hydrated.  The voice of this species is a distinctive bark-like sound sometimes described as 'kla-ha' or 'kla-hah-luk'.

I have just stepped outside my back door here in Fredericton and heard the geese calling from the river.  I wonder what rare geese might be with this flock!  We are lucky to live where we do.  The Greater White-fronted Goose is a holarctic species.  It is also found in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Siberia.  It is intriguing that we can share our rich New Brunswick habitat with a few individuals of this species.