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Photo by Robert T. Maytum
Photo Courtesy of Robert T. Maytum
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): SNA
External links
General information
The greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons, breeds in the arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and migrates southward to the southern United States, Mexico, Africa, and India for winter. It is not common in Utah, being only a rare migrant through the state. The greater white-fronted goose nests in arctic tundra on the edges of water bodies. During other times of the year, it can be found in grain fields, grasslands, marshes, ponds, and lakes.
Four to six eggs are laid and then incubated by the female alone for about four weeks. The male stands guard during incubation, and will help in tending the young. Family groups stay together during migration and at wintering areas for several years. The greater white-fronted goose eats primarily plant matter, including aquatic plants, grains, fruits, and marsh plants, although aquatic insects are also consumed.
Individuals are usually grayish-brown in color with orange or yellowish feet, and a pink bill. The species is called the white-fronted goose because individuals have a white marking on the front of the face.
Species range
BREEDS: Northern Holarctic, although absent from eastern Greenland, Spitsbergen, Iceland, northern Scandinavia, and area between northeastern sections of Mackenzie and Keewatin districts, Northwest Territories. WINTERS: south to France, northern Africa, Greece, Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Japan, southern Mexico, and U.S. Gulf Coast; casual in Hawaii. In the U.S., occurs in winter primarily in California (Klamath Basin, Sacramento Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta) and coastal Texas (Root 1988, Condor 94:858). Subspecies ELGASI: breeds around Cook Inlet, Alaska; winters primarily in Sacramento Valley, California.
Migration
Gathers in large flocks and migrates southward in fall, northward in spring. Nesters from Redoubt Bay in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska, winter primarily in the Sacramento Valley, California (Johnson and Herter 1989). Central Flyway migrants winter in Texas, Louisiana, and eastern Mexico, use grain fields in southern parts of Canadian Prairie Provinces as staging areas for several weeks before continuing to northern nesting areas. Arrives in western Alaska nesting areas late April-early May, in northern Alaska beginning mid-May through June. Departs from Alaska by the end of September, arrives in central California by November. In northern Canada, major staging areas are in the Mackenzie Delta, Blow River delta, Babbage River delta, and on the coastal plain along the Blow and Walking rivers (Johnson and Herter 1989). See Johnson and Herter (1989) for further details on migration. Subspecies FLAVIROSTRIS breeds in west Greenland, winters in Britain and Ireland.
Habitat
In migration and winter, inhabits wetlands, grainfields, grassy fields, marshes, lakes and ponds. Breeds on arctic tundra on edge of marshes, lakes, sloughs, rivers. May nest on islands, on hillsides near open water, or on hummocks in bogs. Female scrapes out depression and lines it with grasses and down.
Food habits
Primarily a grazer; feeds on marsh grasses, grain crops, tundra plants, aquatic plants, and fresh plant growth in fields. Also eats berries, aquatic insects and their larvae (Terres 1980). On the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, primary prenesting foods were pendent grass (ARCTOPHILA) shoots and arrowgrass (TRIGLOCHIN) bulbs; crowberries also were consumed; these foods contributed significantly to nutrient reserves necessary for reproduction (Budeau et al. 1991). In California in winter, fed primarily on cereal grains (Condor 94:857-870).
Ecology
Major causes of nest destruction in Alaska were flooding (28%) and predation (9%) (Ely and Raveling 1984).
Reproductive characteristics
In North America, nests are initiated from mid-May to early June. Female incubates an average of 4-6 eggs for an average of 26-28 days; male stands guard. Hatching usually occurs in late June or early July in the Beaufort Sea region. Nestlings are tended by both adults. Family groups stay in social contact on the wintering grounds for up to several years (Ely, 1993, Auk 110:425-435). In western Greenland, first breeds usually at 2-4 years (Condor 94:791-793). Does not replace destroyed clutch (if complete). Often nests in loose colonies (e.g., 15-20 pairs in area of 0.65 sq km or less). Maximum reported nest density in northern Alaska was about 1.6 nests per sq km (Johnson and Herter 1989).
References
- Biotics Database. 2005. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, NatureServe, and the network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers.
- Peterson, R. T., and V. M. Peterson. 1990. A field guide to western birds, 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 432 pp.
