WATERFOWL of North America
The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie Goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. All species in the order are web-footed for efficient swimming and have a large wide bill with a specialized tongue that allows water to be sucked in the front of the bill. An array of plates traps food particles as the water is expelled out the sides of the bill. Not all species feed this way, some graze on plants and some also catch fish. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
Geese
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae
The following genus comprise the true geese: Anser, Branta, and Chen. They are large, monogamous waterfowl. The Cape Barren Goose, Spur-winged Goose, and Magpie Goose are not true geese. Similary, many species termed goose actually belong to the shelduck subfamily. The closest relatives of the true geese are the swans of genus cygnus.
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Genus Anser
Goose, Bar-headed Anser indicus Found: North America (escaped captive), Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels- Sylvan Heights 3) Dick - San Diego Zoo
Goose, Greater White-fronted aka White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 3, 4) Alan Vernon 5, 6) Dick - Sylvan Heights
1) This bird has a faint yellow eye-ring, not to be confused with the brighter eye-ring of a Lesser White-fronted Goose.
1, 2, 5, 6) Tule Goose (Anser a. Elgasi)
Goose, Graylag Anser anser Found: North America (escaped captive), Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - England 3) Dick - Scotland 4) Dick - Scotland
5) Alan D Wilson - Fort Flagler State Park, Near Port Townsend, Washington 6) Dick - North Carolina
6) Graylag / Domestic Goose hybrid
Goose, Swan Anser cygnoides Found: North America (introduced/domesticated), Asia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo 2) Dick - Sylvan Heights
3) Dick - Puerto Rico, the Mayaquez Zoo 4) Charlie Westerinen - River Kwai, Thailand
Genus Branta
Brant aka Brent aka Brant Goose Branta bernicla Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 5) Alan D Wilson - Foot Of Kinkade Road, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
2) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 3) Dick - Sylvan Heights 4) Dick on the Cape May, New Jersey ferry
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7) Elaine Wilson- Community Beach, Parksville, British Columbia
Goose, Barnacle Branta leucopsis Found: North America, Europe
Photographed by: 1) Sandy Cole - Birds of Eden, South Africa 2) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden
3) Dick - Birds of Eden 4) Dick - Sylvan Heights
Goose, Canada Branta canadensis Found: North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (introduced)
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - England 2) Dick - North Carolina 3) Dick - New York
4) Dick - New Jersey 5) Dick - New Jersey 6) Dick - California
7) Alan D Wilson - Burnaby Lake Regional Park (Piper Spit), Burnaby, British Columbia
Genus Chen
Goose, Emperor Chen canagica Found: North America (northern)
Photographed by: 1, 3) Dick Daniels Sylvan Heights 2) Sandy Cole - Sylvan Heights 4) Dick - Sylvan Heights
Goose, Ross's Chen rossii Found: North America
Ross's Geese and Snow Geese look very similar and can comingle. To tell them apart, compare the bills. The base of the Ross's bill is much straighter than the Snow's.
Goose, Snow Chen caerulescens Found: North America
Ross's Geese and Snow Geese look very similar and can comingle. To tell them apart, compare the bills. The base of the Ross's bill is much straighter than the Snow's.
4) Dick - Sylvan Heights 5) Dick - Luray Caverns, Virginia 6) Dick - North Carolina
7) Alan D Wilson - Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Near San Antonio, New Mexico
3) Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescen )
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.