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White-fronted Goose or Greater White-fronted Goose Anser Flavirostris/Albifrons

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White-fronted Goose

Appearance: - The White-fronted Goose has a dark brown head and neck, the front of the face around the beak is white, a grey-brown plumage with pale fringes on the feathers, darker brown on the back and lighter brownish-buff on the undersides which has broad black bars streaking across lower breast and belly, dull brown flanks, vent and upper tail are white, the beak is pink(Albifrons) or orange-yellow (flavirostris), and the legs and feet are bright orange. Both sexes are alike.
Sub-species - Albifrons & Flavirostris: - The European or Russian White-fronted Goose (Anser Albifrons) differs in appearance from the Greenland White-fronted Goose (Anser flavirostris). The Greenland White-fronted Goose has a darker plumage and orange-yellow beak, while the European or Russian White-fronted Goose has a lighter plumage with a bright pink beak.

Size: - Typical Adult is 65-78cm (25-31in).

Food: - Mainly grasses, cereals, grain, wheat, and potatoes. Also occasionally molluscs and insects.

Habitat/Range: - Wet grasslands, fields, saltmarshes, and estuaries in Alaska, Arctic Canada, south-west Greenland, and Arctic Siberia. Winters further south in the USA, Mexico, UK and Europe, also India, China, and Japan.

White-fronted Goose Map
Breeding Habitat/Resident,    Migration or Winter Area.



Breeding Season: - Begins late May to June.

Eggs: - 4 to 7 (creamy-white colour).

Notes: - The White-fronted Goose or Greater White-fronted Goose belongs to the Anser genus (Grey Geese). This goose is colloquially called "Specklebelly" due to the salt-and-pepper appearance of its underside. There are two main sub-species that differ in appearance - European or Russian White-fronted Goose (Anser Albifrons), and Greenland White-fronted Goose (Anser flavirostris).

Conservation status (IUCN 3.1):
  Least Concern.  

Classification: - Family: Anatidae,
Subfamily: Anserinae, Genus: Anser.

Greater White-fronted Goose video:


Wildfowl (Alphabetical order):
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Photographs

White-fronted Goose
White-fronted Goose (Anser Flavirostris/Albifrons)





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