Bird Description

Breeds on tundra (gambeli) and some on taiga wetlands. Locally common in winter in agricultural areas, prairies, and some coastal regions. Scarce in other areas, usually mixed with other geese. Greenland birds (flavirostris) are scarce winter visitors to E coast. ID: Medium-sized, stocky gray-brown goose with orange legs and usually pink bill. Variably speckled black on belly, and white 'face' diagnostic. Domesticated Graylag Goose and interbreeds can look similar. Sexes similar. Young birds develop black belly and white around base of bill and then forehead at variable rates through first winter. Ssp gambeli: pink bill sometimes with orange; generally larger, slimmer, paler-bellied with less black speckling than Greenland birds, which have mostly orange bills, though some have pink mixed in. Imm has yellower bill. Separation of these two ssp is often very difficult.