Spring Light Goose Conservation Order - Identifying Light Geese
Only snow geese, blue geese and Ross’s geese are legal druing the spring light goose conservation order. Below are some identification characteristics of these species.
Snow and blue geese: Snows and blues are medium-sized geese measuring 25-31 inches from beak to tail, and weighing 4-6.5 pounds. They are different color phases of the same species, and have the same harsh, high-pitched call. Adult bill is pink with whitish tip, and feet are pink. Immature bill and feet are gray. Adult snow geese are all white except for black wing tips. Immature snow geese are dusky white with black wing tips. Adult blue geese have a white head and slate gray body color with some white on lower chest and abdomen. In spring, immature blue geese have all slate-gray bodies but head may be white or gray. Wings are slate gray with darker tips in both adult and immature.
Ross's geese: Ross’s geese are identical to snow geese in coloration, but they have a shorter bill and neck, and are much smaller, weighing 3-4 pounds. Adults have a wart-like tissue at the base of the bill.
The Species Below are NOT Legal Species during the Spring Light Goose Conservation Order
Tundra Swans: Tundra swans are large white birds with long necks, weighing 10-23 pounds, more than twice as big as snow geese. Unlike snow geese, they do not have black wing tips, but their black feet and bill are evident in flight.
Whooping Crane: Snowy white and stands more than four feet tall. In flight, its black wingtips are visible, its neck is extended and its long dark legs extend beyond the tail. It has a wingspan of 7.5 feet. Whoopers usually are found in small groups of seven or fewer.
White-fronted Geese (Specklebelly): Medium-sized goose 27-30 inches long and 4.5-7 pounds. The body is grayish brown. Adults have black barring on breast and white on face around bill. Feet are yellow-orange. Bill is orange with adult showing some pink at base and tip. The call is a high-pitched ke-lee-lee-le. In flight the yellow-orange feet and black-barred breast of adults are evident.
Immature Whitefront: No barring on breast, overall grayish in color, similar in appearance to immature blue geese.
Canada Geese: Several subspecies ranging from 2.5 to more than 15 pounds. Has a dark brown back and sides. Chest and belly vary from brownish to pearl gray, with larger subspecies usually lighter. Head and neck are jet black with white cheek and throat patch. Bill and feet are black. The call is a deep-throated honk. In flight their black head and neck with white cheek and throat are evident.