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.
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).
WWT Slimbridge Video clips:
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