Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE GOOSE-LIKE BIRDS

THE SWANS, GEESE, DUCKS, AND MERGANSERS

The Greater Snow Goose

(C. hyperboreus nivalis) is the largest form, ranging from thirty to thirty-eight inches in length, and is uniform pure white throughout, with the exception of the black primaries. Its breeding grounds are unknown, but are probably in the Arctic regions to the east of Mackenzie River; in winter is found from the Chesapeake Bay to Cuba, but is rare on the coast north of Virginia; very little is known of its habits. Similar but smaller is the Lesser Snow Goose (C hyperboreus), which is only twenty-three to twenty-eight inches in length. It is found in western America, breeding in northern Alaska and migrating south in winter to southern

California and along the Asiatic coast to Japan. Its habits are likewise but little known. The smallest species is Ross's Snow Goose (C. rossii), this being only twenty to twenty-six inches in total length, and otherwise differing from the two mentioned above by the smaller, weaker bill.

It is found in the interior of Arctic America in summer and in winter migrates as far south as Montana on the east and southern California on the west. Its nests, eggs, and habits, as well, are practically unknown.

The last species of the genus is the so-called Blue Goose (C. carulescens), which may be known by the plumage being chiefly grayish brown, the rump and wing-coverts usually bluish gray. It was formerly thought to be the young of the Snow Goose, but it is now known to be a distinct species.

It is found in eastern North America, spending the summer on the eastern shore of Hudson's Bay and migrating southward, chiefly in the interior, to Texas. The nest and eggs are not known.

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