Ross's Goose
Anser rossii
About This Species
This small, stocky white goose winters in large flocks on prairie wetlands, agricultural fields and shallow lakes in the southern and central United States, often mixed in with the much more numerous Snow Goose. Look for its shorter neck, stubbier bill and steeper forehead when scanning a mixed flock, and listen for its higher-pitched, more clipped call compared to its larger relative. Late autumn through winter, at dawn and dusk feeding and roosting flights, offers the most reliable viewing.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Observe flocks from a distance of at least 50-100 metres, ideally from a vehicle, hide or established viewing area, since large goose flocks are easily flushed and repeated disturbance wastes critical winter fat reserves.
- Migratory waterfowl are protected under federal law in the United States and Canada, with specific hunting regulations and seasons that vary by jurisdiction, so recreational observers should not assume open-season rules apply to viewing.
- Stick to marked trails or pull-offs at refuges rather than walking out into fields or wetland edges where flocks are feeding or roosting.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
212,883 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.