Ross's Goose
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- Other uses: Goose (disambiguation)
The Ross's Goose (Chen rossii or Anser rossii) is a North American species of goose.
The American Ornithologists' Union places this species and the other two "white" geese in the genus Chen rather than the more traditional "grey" goose genus Anser.
This goose breeds in northern Canada and winters much further south in the continent in the southern USA and occasionally northern Mexico.
The plumage of this species is white except for black wing tips. It is similar in appearance to a white-phase Snow Goose but approximately 40% smaller. Other differences from the Snow Goose are that Ross's bill is smaller in proportion to its body and lacks "black lips". The dark phase is extremely rare.
This species is commonly held in wildfowl collections, and most European sightings are regarded as escapes.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). [Chen rossii]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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