Latin: Anser caerulescens caerulescens
Average length: M 29", F 28"
Average weight: M 6.1 lbs., F 5.5 lbs.
Description: Lesser snow geese have two color phases: a dark (blue) plumage and a white (snow) plumage. The two color phases are variations within the same race and do not indicate separate races. The sexes are similar in appearance in both phases, however, the female is often smaller. Lesser snow geese can hybridize with Ross' geese, which are similar in appearance. They have pinkish bills with black ?grinning patches and the feet and legs are reddish-pink. In the dark phase they have white heads and upper necks, with bluish-gray bodies. In the white phase they are completely white except for black wing tips. 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.
Breeding: Lesser snow geese breed along Queen Maud Gulf, Baffin Island, Banks Island, and Victoria Island, in the Northwest Territories, and Hudson Bay. They nest on low grassy tundra plains and broad shallow rivers near the coast, and on islands within shallow inland lakes. Lesser snow geese nest in colonies and lay an average of 4 to 5 eggs.
Migrating and Wintering: Lesser snow geese historically migrated from their northern breeding grounds down the Pacific and Mississippi Flyways to winter in the Central Valley of California, and the Gulf Coast of Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico; where the abundant emergent vegetation of the brackish or salt marshes provided both food and cover. Recently, they have expanded their winter range to interior agricultural lands in states such as Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, where corn, rice, and pasture grasses provide abundant food supplies.
Population: During the winter 2000 population survey, 3,232,289 lesser snow geese were reported. The recent growth of the lesser snow goose population has resulted in extensive changes to tundra plant communities near breeding colonies due to the foraging habits of this species. This loss of foraging habitat within established breeding areas has caused lesser snow geese to search along the coastline for food and to adversely impact larger areas of tundra habitat.
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