Ross's goose Chen rossii

Identification Tips:

• Length: 16 inches Wingspan: 51 inches
• Sexes similar
• Small goose
• Different color morphs
• Sometimes hybridizes with similar Snow Goose

White morph-adult

• Entirely white plumage
• Black primaries
• Pink legs and feet
• Pink bill

White morph-immature

• Mostly white plumage-pale gray upperparts
• Black primaries
• Dark legs and feet
• Dark bill

Blue morph-adult

• White head and upper neck
• Dark lower neck and body
• Pale gray wing upperwing coverts
• Scapulars dark-centered with white edges
• Mostly dark primaries and secondaries
• Pink legs and feet
• Pink bill

Similar species:

White morph Ross's Goose is extemely similar to the white morph Snow Goose. The Ross's Goose is smaller with a stubbier bill without the black patch on the mandibles. It also appears rounder-headed with a shorter neck. Immature white morph Snow Goose is darker-backed than the immature white morph Ross's Goose. The rare blue morph of the Ross's Goose can be separated from the similar blue morph of the Snow Goose by the same structural characteristics already mentioned. Hybrids between Ross's and Snow Geese have intermediate characteristics.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.