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Geese names
Chen caerulescens
EOL Text
Anser caerulescens have quite an expansive geographical range. They leave their wintering grounds in March and head north over the New England states. They rest between the first week in April and the end of May in the St. Lawrence River area. They then continue northward over central Quebec, Canada to their destination in the northeast artic. The breeding grounds cover the area from northern Baffin Island, west to Bathurst Island, north to Alert on Ellesmere Island, and east to northwest Greenland. The southwest coast of Bylot is the location of the main nesting colony. They leave their breeding grounds in September. They begin to arrive at the St. Lawrence River area in October and stay until early November when they continue to their American wintering grounds(Heyland, 2000). Their main wintering grounds are along the gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas between the Mississippi delta and Corpus Christi, Texas. However, in recent years colonies have been seen in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Iowa. Smaller numbers are found in eastern Mexico and southern New Mexico (Belrose, 1942).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anser_caerulescens/ |
Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) BREEDS: northeastern Siberia, northern Alaska, arctic Canada, and northern Greenland. WINTERS: mainly from southern British Columbia south to California; along Gulf coast from Veracruz, Mexico, and Texas to western Florida; on Atlantic coast, New Jersey to South Carolina; casual in Hawaii (Godfrey 1966, Pratt et al. 1987). In recent years, a growing segment of western arctic population wintered in middle Rio Grande valley and Pecos River valley in New Mexico and to lakes in northern Chihuahua (and in southeastern Colorado in some mild winters) (Johnson and Herter 1989, Taylor and Kirby 1990).
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Chen+caerulescens |
鉴别特征 体形较豆雁略小些。雌雄相似。除初级飞羽黑色外,全身皆为白色。嘴和脚为红色。
形态(据指名亚种)
头部常染有不同程度的锈色;初级飞羽黑色,羽基渐转为淡灰色;初级覆羽灰色;其余
体羽都是白色。
虹膜暗褐色;嘴赤红色,边缘黑;脚淡紫或橄榄红色,具黑爪。雌雁的嘴较雄雁细小些。
量衡度(根据寿振黄):
性别 体重 全长 嘴峰 翅 跗蹠
♂♀ 2,000—2,500 584—736 49.5—58.4 365—455 71.1—82.5
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Rights holder/Author | EOL China Regional Center |
Source | No source database. |
Comments: Winters in both freshwater and coastal wetlands, wet prairies and extensive sandbars, foraging also in pastures, cultivated lands and flooded fields (AOU 1983). Nests in tundra marshes near water, on raised hummocks and ridges. In Manitoba, geese nesting in tall willows had better reproductive success than did geese nesting in shorter willows or in areas without willows (Jackson et al. 1988). Females generally nest at their natal or prior nest site.
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 21 - 300
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Chen+caerulescens |
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Chen+caerulescens |
More info for the terms: shrubs, tundra
Snow geese need areas free from human disturbance, since they will
abandon feeding or nesting areas if frequently disturbed [15]. Lesser
snow geese need low, grassy tundra for breeding with flat basins near
lakes, rivers, flood plains, or seas. Greater snow geese need rocky
terrain near grassy tundra and areas where flat, marshy lands are
protected from the north by mountains [13]. Mosses and grasses are
needed for nests, and large bodies of water are needed for flocking
since snow geese are gregarious birds [13]. In Manitoba studies have
shown that they tend to be more successful nesters in areas that have
tall willow (Salix spp.) shrubs (greater than 16 inches [40 cm])
compared to areas with short (less than 15 inches [30 cm]) or no willow
shrubs [12]. Presumably the shrubs offer protection from predators.
>1,000,000 individuals
Comments: Breeding population estimated at around 5 million in 1997 (Mowbray et al. 2000).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Chen+caerulescens |
The snow goose has one of the largest populations of any goose in the
world, ranking behind only the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) in
population size and harvest numbers [15].
More info for the terms: marsh, tundra
Snow geese prefer coastal lagoons and marshes, agricultural land and
adjacent prairies, tidal flats, estuaries, and tundra areas [15]. They
roost in large flocks on dry, flat land on wintering grounds and feed on
inland lakes and marshes or large estuaries. During cold weather snow
geese will roost in places with tall marsh vegetation, such as common
reed (Phragmites australis) [15]. Sometimes geese create their own
roost sites by grazing vegetation so low that they are able to make
their own holes in the ground; these holes eventually turn into small
ponds. Snow geese tend to feed on tidal flats and deltas that have the
newest sediment deposits and where water is shallow (about 7.9 inches
[20 cm] deep). They will move inland with flooding or cool, windy
weather [15]. Lesser snow geese breed within 6 miles (10 km) of water
in low tundra, while greater snow geese choose rockier sites on the lee
side of mountains in wet tundra [16]. Snow geese often feed on
agricultural land when the tide is in or when crops are just emerging
[8].