Common name: Snow Goose
Scientific name: Anser caerulescens
Conservation Status: Least Concern
At the zoo: Howard (male, 13y) - you can find him with his Muscovy buddy in the capybara enclosure, towards the center of the zoo.
Habitat:
Snow Geese are found throughout North America. They migrate to the Arctic Tundra during breeding season.
Diet:
Snow Geese graze on grass, sedges, rushes, moss, shrubs, roots, and invertebrates. They will also forage in wasted winter wheat and cornfields.
Median Life Expectancy:
20 years
Biology:
Snow Geese live in family groups that forage together. They can be found in huge flocks of up to several hundred thousand. There are two different colour variations: the 'snow phase' and the 'blue phase'. In the snow phase the geese are all white with black wing-tips and in the blue phase the geese have a blue/grey cast to their feathers, also with black wing-tips. It was originally thought that they were two different species, but it was discovered that they live and interbreed together commonly.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that Snow Geese are monogamous and mating pairs tend to return to the same nest each year!?
