greater snow goose

The greater snow goose (Chen caerulescens atlantica) is a North American bird belonging to the Anatidae family. This species breeds in northwestern Greenland and nearby islands, migrating to winter along the east coast of the United States, particularly in areas like Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina.1

Greater snow geese can be distinguished by their white plumage with black wingtips, pink legs, and a bill featuring a black "grin". They are known to feed on seeds, leaves, and roots of wild grasses, sedges, and bulrushes, using their specialized bills. These geese are believed to mate for life and nest in colonies, building nests from grasses lined with down. Historically, overhunting significantly reduced their numbers, but populations have since recovered.1