Snow Goose Vs Canada Goose: Key Differences Explained
Geese are relatively large birds that can often be spotted in a variety of locations from city ponds to farmer’s fields, lakes and country ponds. When viewed from a distance it can be difficult to distinguish one type of goose from another.
In this article we’ll be looking at two members of the goose family; the Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) and the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). We’ll compare the differences in the way these two geese look, their different calls, their habitats, their nests as well as comparing their size and weight.
If you want to be able to differentiate between a Snow Goose from a Canada Goose, keep reading.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Canada Geese are the larger of the 2 species
- Canada Geese have long black necks with white cheeks and white chin straps
- Snow Geese have white bodies with black wingtips
- Canada Geese have a black bill and black legs
- Snow Geese have a pink bill and pink legs
- Canada Gees are a common sight around the UK
- Snow Geese are rare winter visitors to the UK
What Is The Difference Between A Snow Goose And A Canada Goose?
There are enough differences between these two species of geese to allow a positive identification between the two even at some distance. These differences include;
Visual Differences
Canada Geese have a large brown body with light underparts. They have long black necks, white cheeks and chin straps, with black feet and a black bill. They also have large, powerful wings that can span up to 180 cm.
Snow Geese have two different colourations known as “morphs” ; Snow Geese with a white morph have a large white body, black wingtips and a pink bill and legs. Blue morph Snow Geese have dark blue-grey bodies with a white face and white undertail.
Differences In Habitat
Canada Geese are native to North America but have adapted well to a large range of habitats in the UK and can be seen in many areas from remote, isolated wetlands to city parks. They are migratory birds and can often be seen travelling in “V” shaped formations.
They tend to breed in a variety of habitats including; lakes, rivers, and urban areas. During winter they often move further south to escape the worst of the weather.
Snow Geese breed in the Arctic regions of North America and migrate to warmer areas during autumn. Where they reside on coastal marshes, estuaries and farmland.
They have an impressive migratory journey which covers thousands of miles from the Arctic Tundra to various parts of the United States and Mexico. They are rare visitors to the UK and often appear as individuals rather than in flocks.
They are likely to be seen resting and feeding in farmer’s fields, lakes and ponds out in the countryside. Although it’s rare to spot a Snow Goose in the UK there are around 100 reported sightings each year. Your best chance of spotting a Snow Goose tends to be in Scotland.
Both Canada Geese and Snow Geese migrate although some Canada Geese remain all year round in the UK. Both of these types of geese have similar feeding habits and both can often be spotted feeding on lawns, golf courses and in urban parks.
Nests & Eggs
The female Snow Goose builds a scrape nest, during the breeding season which runs typically from late May through to mid August. The nest is simply a shallow depression in the ground that is lined with grasses and other soft materials as well as her own down.
She will then lay a clutch of eggs which averages anywhere between 3 to 7 eggs with a typical clutch containing 3 to 5 eggs. The eggs are a creamy white colour which gets stained in the nest by the female’s excrement and acts as a camouflage.
The size of the eggs is around 80 x 53 mm and they are incubated by the female for around 22 to 25 days. The chicks are precocial and generally leave the nest after around 24 hours and are taught how to forage for food by both parents.
It’s also the female Canada Goose that selects the nesting site and makes a simple scrape nest. The breeding season for Canada Geese starts earlier around March and runs through to around June.
She will lay anywhere between 4 to 9 eggs with an average being around 5 or 6. She incubates the creamy white eggs on her own with the male standing guard to protect his mate, eggs and nest from any would-be intruders.
The eggs are around 83 x 56 mm in size and hatch after an incubation period of around 25 to 28 days. The precocial chicks leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching and are schooled in foraging for food by both parents.
Bird Calls
Both Canada Geese and Snow geese are known for their loud honking calls which can be heard when the birds are in flight and when they’re feeding. The call of the Canada Goose is a deeper, more resonant sounding honk than that of the Snow Goose.
The Snow Goose’s call is higher in pitch and has a more nasal sound than the call of the Canada Goose.
Size & Weight
Although both of these birds are relatively large, the Canada Goose is larger in size than the Snow Goose. The length of a Snow Goose ranges from 65 to 80 cm with a wingspan of around 132 to 165 cm and they weigh somewhere between 1.8 to 4.3 kg.
Canada Geese have a length of around 90 to 110 cm and a wingspan of around 140 to 180 cm and they weigh around 4.2 to 5 kg.
SEE ALSO: Stonechat Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Frequently Asked Questions
Canada Geese are the larger of these two types of geese with an average Canada Goose weighing around 4.2 to 5 kg while an average Snow Goose weighs around 1.8 to 4.3 kg.
Snow Geese are rare visitors to the UK and are almost always spotted singularly as opposed to in a flock. As they are migratory birds, you have a slight chance of seeing a Snow Goose between the months of October to April but you will probably need to be located in the Northern parts of the UK.
There are resident populations of Canada Geese all across the UK and they can be seen all year round.
