Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758)
SJ
SNOGO
1630
Family: Anseriformes > Anatidae
![Snow Goose, Simon Gillings Snow Goose, Simon Gillings](https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/birdfacts/00054_Snow%20Goose_Simon%20Gillings.jpg)
Previously only a rare visitor from North America (where numbers have increased markedly), there is now a small, self-sustaining population of this white goose in Argyll.
The Snow Goose occurs in two colour morphs: a 'white' (light) morph and a 'blue' (dark) morph, controlled by a single gene.
Most of the Snow Geese present in Britain are individuals that have escaped from captivity, but a handful of genuine vagrants arrive with visiting Pink-Footed Geese. The breeding range extends from eastern Siberia, across arctic North America to Greenland.
Identification
Snow Goose identification is often straightforward.
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Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
POPULATION CHANGE
UK winter population |
-26% decrease (1995/96 to 2020/21) ![]() |
DISTRIBUTION
Although small numbers of genuine vagrant Snow Geese are recorded annually, the majority of individuals recorded during 2007–11 were escapes from captivity. The records of wild Snow Geese are most likely to occur at traditional staging or wintering areas of Pink-footed Geese. The breeding records are all of birds of captive origin and tend to be at sites with ornamental lakes; the only apparently self-sustaining populations were those in Argyll, on northwestern Mull and Coll in the Inner Hebrides.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
No. occupied in breeding season | 6 |
% occupied in breeding season | 0.2 |
No. occupied in winter | 164 |
% occupied in winter | 5.4 |
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +30% |
SEASONALITY
The year-round presence of Snow Geese is a complicated mixture of naturalised residents and a small number of presumed vagrants from North America, the latter most often seen in winter with wild winter goose flocks.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Snow Goose, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
SURVIVAL & LONGEVITY
View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report
Maximum Age from Ringing ![]() |
4 years 11 months 22 days (set in 2007) ![]() |
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
Field Codes ![]() |
2-letter: SJ | 5-letter code: SNOGO | Euring: 1630 |
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Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com
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