Species: Anser albifrons

Greater White-fronted Goose
Species
    Kingdom
    Animalia
    Phylum
    Craniata
    Class

    Aves

    Order

    Anseriformes

    Family

    Anatidae

    Genus

    Anser

    Classification
    Other Global Common Names
    Ganso Careto-Mayor - oie rieuse
    Informal Taxonomy
    Animals, Vertebrates - Birds - Waterfowl
    Formal Taxonomy
    Animalia - Craniata - Aves - Anseriformes - Anatidae - Anser - (AOU 1998).
    Migration
    false - false - true - Subspecies FLAVIROSTRIS breeds in west Greenland, winters in Britain and Ireland.
    Non-migrant
    false
    Locally Migrant
    false
    Food Comments
    Primarily a grazer; feeds on marsh grasses, grain crops, tundra plants, aquatic plants, and fresh plant growth in fields. Also eats berries, aquatic insects and their larvae (Terres 1980). On the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, primary prenesting foods were pendent grass (ARCTOPHILA) shoots and arrowgrass (TRIGLOCHIN) bulbs; crowberries also were consumed; these foods contributed significantly to nutrient reserves necessary for reproduction (Budeau et al. 1991). In California in winter, fed primarily on cereal grains (Condor 94:857-870).
    Reproduction Comments
    In North America, nests are initiated from mid-May to early June. Female incubates an average of 4-6 eggs for an average of 26-28 days; male stands guard. Hatching usually occurs in late June or early July in the Beaufort Sea region. Nestlings are tended by both adults. Family groups stay in social contact on the wintering grounds for up to several years (Ely, 1993, Auk 110:425-435). In western Greenland, first breeds usually at 2-4 years (Condor 94:791-793). Does not replace destroyed clutch (if complete). Often nests in loose colonies (e.g., 15-20 pairs in area of 0.65 sq km or less). Maximum reported nest density in northern Alaska was about 1.6 nests per sq km (Johnson and Herter 1989).
    Ecology Comments
    Major causes of nest destruction in Alaska were flooding (28%) and predation (9%) (Ely and Raveling 1984).
    Length
    71
    Weight
    2587
    NatureServe Global Status Rank
    G5
    Global Status Last Reviewed
    1996-11-20
    Global Status Last Changed
    1996-11-20
    Other Status

    LC - Least concern

    Conservation Status Map
    <img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.AB=__&CA.BC=__&CA.MB=__&CA.NT=S5&CA.NU=SNR&CA.ON=__&CA.QC=__&CA.SK=__&CA.YT=S4&US.AL=__&US.AK=S5&US.AZ=__&US.AR=__&US.CA=__&US.CO=__&US.GA=S3&US.ID=__&US.IL=__&US.IN=__&US.IA=__&US.KS=__&US.KY=__&US.LA=__&US.MD=__&US.MN=__&US.MS=__&US.MO=__&US.MT=__&US.NN=__&US.NE=__&US.NV=__&US.NJ=__&US.NM=__&US.NC=__&US.ND=__&US.OH=__&US.OK=__&US.OR=__&US.SC=__&US.SD=__&US.TN=__&US.TX=S5&US.UT=__&US.VA=__&US.WA=__&US.WV=__&US.WI=__&US.WY=__" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
    Global Range
    H - >2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles) - H - BREEDS: Northern Holarctic, although absent from eastern Greenland, Spitsbergen, Iceland, northern Scandinavia, and area between northeastern sections of Mackenzie and Keewatin districts, Northwest Territories. WINTERS: south to France, northern Africa, Greece, Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Japan, southern Mexico, and U.S. Gulf Coast; casual in Hawaii. In the U.S., occurs in winter primarily in California (Klamath Basin, Sacramento Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta) and coastal Texas (Root 1988, Condor 94:858). Subspecies ELGASI: breeds around Cook Inlet, Alaska; winters primarily in Sacramento Valley, California.
    Global Range Code
    H
    Global Range Description
    >2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
    ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104263