Snow Goose Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
The Snow Goose is a fascinating medium sized goose which is a native of North America. They breed north of the timberline in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Siberia.
Snow Geese have both White and dark morphs with the dark morph known as the Blue Goose. White Snow Geese are typically white with black wingtips. The Blue Snow Geese have a bluish-grey plumage replacing all of the white with the exception of the head, neck and tail tip.
In this article we’ll look at the dietary habits of the Snow Goose as well as their breeding habits and size and weight. Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
The Dietary Habits Of The Snow Goose
In this section we’ll take a close look into what Snow Geese eat.
What Does A Snow Goose Eat?
Snow Geese are herbivores and survive on mainly plants like sedges and rushes. They will feed on different parts of plants including the leaves, stems and roots and will often supplement their diets with berries when they are available.
They are also likely to feed on many cultivated plant seeds during the winter months when other sources of food are scarce. They will often eat waste grains like corn, wheat, soybeans and rice which all provide the Snow Goose with an easy to find energy rich food source.
What To Feed A Baby Snow Goose?
Snow Goose chicks are precocial which means they are pretty much self sufficient as soon as they hatch. They leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching and forage for their own food alongside their parents.
The young goslings will eat grasses and other vegetation just like their parents but will also supplement their diets with insects, larvae, fruits and some flowers.
Breeding Habits Of Snow Geese
The Snow Goose has a distinct courtship display which consists of male and female birds facing each other and stretching their necks upwards in rapid succession. This behaviour is repeated together for some time.
They tend to nest in colonies with the breeding season extending from late May to mid August depending on climatic conditions and the abundance of food.
Do Snow Geese Mate For Life?
Snow Geese generally mate for life and will often pair up around 12 months before they first breed. Breeding typically occurs when the pair are around 3 years old.
The female selects the nest site and builds a simple scrape nest which is often sited on a slightly elevated piece of ground to reduce the risk of flooding. There is evidence that the pair will return to the same nesting site year after year.
However, if one partner dies, the other bird will form a new monogamous relationship.
The Size & Weight Of Snow Geese
In this section we’ll look into the size and weight of Snow Geese to help make identification easier in the field.
How Much Does A Snow Goose Weigh?
An adult Snow Goose can weigh anywhere between 1.8 to 4.3 kilograms which is around a similar weight as 1 to 2, 2 litre bottles of pop.
How Big Is A Snow Goose?
An adult Snow Goose has a typical length of anywhere between 65 to 80 cm and a wingspan which ranges from 132 to 165 cm. This is roughly the same length and wingspan as a Cormorant, but the Snow Goose is much heavier.
Are Snow Geese Under Threat?
Due to their large range and large population, the Snow Goose is not threatened globally. In fact they are classified as a bird of least concern according to the IUCN.
At the beginning of the 20th century the Snow Goose population was in decline but has since recovered. In fact, the population of Snow Geese in North America has increased to the point that breeding grounds are becoming severely degraded.
This is affecting both the Snow Goose population as well as other species that use the same breeding grounds.
Snow Geese tend to not have too many threats apart from predation from both animals and humans. With that said they can be threatened by pollution and lead poisoning caused by consuming discarded lead shot from fishermen.
What Eats A Snow Goose?
Snow Geese do have a number of threats from animals and birds that will prey on them, their young and their eggs. These predators include; Gulls, Skuas, Owls, Eagles, Ravens, Foxes (particularly Snow Foxes), Wolves, Black Bears and Polar Bears.
Where Can I See Snow Geese In The UK?
Snow Geese are rare visitors to the UK and most sightings tend to be of individual birds and not flocks. They can often be spotted with other geese species like Barnacle Geese, Greylag Geese or Pink-Footed Geese.
These sightings usually occur during the winter months when migratory patterns bring many different geese species to the UK. You’re most likely to see a Snow Goose vagrant in one of the following places;
Scotland
In Scotland you may spot the odd individual Snow Goose in one of the following locations;
- RSPB Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire
- RSPB Vane Farm, Loch Leven, Perth and Kinross
- Isle of Islay
England
During the winter months it is sometimes possible to spot an individual or more Snow Geese at;
- The Wash (Norfolk & Lincolnshire)
- Holkham National Nature Reserve (Norfolk)
- WWT Slimbridge (Gloucestershire)
- WWT Martin Mere (Lancashire)
You can also see captive Snow Geese in some wildlife parks and zoos across the UK. Whilst these sightings are not wild birds, you will at least get to see these fascinating creatures up close.
SEE ALSO: Short-Toed Treecreeper Vs Treecreeper: Key Differences Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
An average adult Snow Goose is around 65 to 80 cm in length with a wingspan which ranges from 132 to 165 cm. Females tend to be slightly smaller than males but the difference can be insignificant.
An adult Snow Goose can weigh anywhere between 1.8 to 4.3 kilograms.
Snow Geese do generally mate for life and typically pair up around 1 year before they reach sexual maturity and start breeding (around the age of 3 years). If one partner dies, the remaining goose will form another monogamous relationship with a different partner.
