Lesser Snow

Lesser snow Goose

 Chen caerulescens

Photographed at Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Canada   Sep 2011

The Snow Goose has two colour plumage morphs, snow white or blue gray, thus the common description as "snows" and "blues."

Both types have rose-red feet and legs, and pink bills with black cutting edges, giving them a black "grin patch." The head can be stained rusty-brown from minerals in the soil where they feed. They are very vocal and can often be heard from more than a mile away.

These two colors of geese were once thought to be separate species; since they interbreed and are found together throughout their ranges, they are now considered two color phases of the same species.

When choosing a mate, young birds will most often select a mate that resembles their parents' coloring. If the birds were hatched into a mixed pair, they will mate with either color phase

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Hawaiian Nene Goose

Goose (Hawaiian Nene)

 Branta Sandvicensis

Photographed in the wild,

 Mauna Loa hillside, Big Island Hawaii     Mar 2014

Hawaiian geese are found only in the Hawaiian Islands and are the only species of goose not occurring naturally in continental areas. They are among the most isolated, sedentary and threatened of all waterfowl and the rarest of all geese. It is the sixth most endangered waterfowl species worldwide.

Believed to be a descendant of the Canadian goose that has adapted to the islands of Hawaii. The Nene have different feet from most waterfowl, they have reduced webbing and very strong toes with padding, an adaptation that allows it to swiftly travel through its rough terrain such as lava plains.

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Egyptian

Egyptian Goose 

Alopochenaegyptiacus

Photographed at Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Canada     Sep 2011

Egyptian Geese are attractive, but rather odd-looking birds. They have a pale head and under parts, with dark eye-patches and pink legs. Distinct white wing-coverts are revealed when in flight. They are usually 63-73 centimetres long.

Egyptian Geese mate for life. A mated pair is very protective of their territory and nest, aggressively defending it against intruders and attacking, when necessary. They nest in a number of places, but especially like holes in mature trees in parklands. They often choose to nest in abandoned nests, and have been known to nest on ledges on cliffs and banks. They are a largely terrestrial species, which will also perch readily on trees and buildings.

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Cotton Pygmy Goose

Cotton Pygmy Goose 

Nettapuscoromandelianus

Photographed at Animal Kingdom, Orlando, FL    Mar 2011

Actually, a duck, this bird is called a goose because of its long neck The Cotton Pygmy-goose is the smallest waterfowl on earth.

The male has a white head, neck and under parts, dark glossy green upper parts and a narrow dark breast band. Females are duskier and have a dark stripe through the eye and a white eyebrow.

It is largely resident, apart from dispersion in the wet season, but Chinese birds winter further south. It nests in tree holes, laying 8-15 eggs.

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Chinese Swan

Chinese Swan Goose

Anser Cygnoides 

Photographed at Ardastra Zoo, Nassau Bahamas Dec 2012

Chinese geese have a slightly upright stance compared to other plumper goose breeds; they resemble the Swan goose and have a swan like appearance. They are a light medium sized breed and have a noticeable knob on the top of its bill; this is used to identify the sex of the bird. Chinese Geese can come in different colours, Grey/Brown & White.

Its main breeding grounds are situated on the border area between Russia, Mongolia and mainland China, with totals of 33,000.

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Canadian Goose

Canadian Goose

(Brantacanadensis)

Photographed in the wild, Toronto, Canada      Apr. 2006

The Canadian goose is the most familiar and common of geese in Canada. The size decreases northward with the smallest living in the high Arctic coastal tundra. A brownish body with a black head, long black neck and white chin strap characterize the colouring of this goose.

The Canadian goose is well known for its V-shaped migrating flocks and characteristic honk. They are chiefly grazers, feeding on stubble fields and marsh vegetation. There are 11 geographical races; some with populations well over a million, some barely over one thousand.

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Bar Headed Goose

Bar-headed Goose

Brantacanadensis

Photographed at Discovery Cove, Orlando, FL      Mar 2011

The Bar-headed Goose is one of the world's highest-flying birds, having been seen at up to 33,382 feet). It has a slightly larger wing area for its weight than other geese, which is believed to help the goose fly at high altitudes. Studies have found that they breathe more efficiently under low oxygen conditions and are able to reduce heat loss

The Bar-headed Goose migrates over the Himalayas to spend the winter in parts of India. The bird can fly a 1000-mile migration route in just one day as it is able to fly in the jet stream.

The bird has come to the attention of medical science in recent years as having been an early victim of the H5N1 virus, HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza), at Qinghai.

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African Pygmy

African Pygmy Goose

 Nettapusauritus

Photographed at Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Florida   Mar 2011

Although called a goose, this is Africa's smallest duck. It can usually be found in small groups among floating vegetation throughout tropical Africa and Madagascar. Large concentrations may form during molt.

These ducks are quite sexually dimorphic. The drakes have a yellow bill and white face with a large, dark-bordered pale green patch at the back of the head. The sides of the female's face are whitish with grey speckling and she has a narrow black eye-stripe. Both sexes have rufous under parts.

They avoid coming on land, but may be seen perched on branches overhanging the water. They feed chiefly on the surface, but also dive for part of their diet. 

These birds normally nest in tree holes. A clutch consists of 6-11 ivory-white eggs.

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