The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America: Second Edition

Swans and Geese

FAMILY: ANATIDAE

Swans are very large, long-necked, and all-white, but are otherwise similar to geese in structure and habits. Geese are generally larger than ducks and relatively long-necked. Because their legs are placed toward the center of the body, swans and geese walk easily on land but do not dive. Their diet consists mainly of vegetation acquired by grazing in upland fields or by dabbling or upending in shallow water. All species are gregarious and often form large flocks in the nonbreeding season that fly in a V or U formation, calling loudly in chorus. Family groups stay together for almost a full year. Plumage varies little between adults and immatures or males and females. Adults are shown.

Genus Anser

Greater White-fronted Goose, this page

Emperor Goose, this page

Genus Chen

Snow Goose, this page

Ross’s Goose, this page

Genus Branta

Brant, this page

Cackling Goose, this page

Canada Goose, this page

Genus Cygnus

Mute Swan, this page

Trumpeter Swan, this page

Tundra Swan, this page

Domestic Geese

The common geese seen at city parks and farm ponds are Graylag Goose and Swan Goose, as well as hybrids with Canada Goose. Variation in size, shape, and color is extensive, and domestic birds are often pot-bellied and partly or mostly white. Occasionally these birds join wild flocks of Canada Geese.

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Exotic Waterfowl

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

l

49.6"

ws

75"

wt

15.4 lb (7,000 g)

Native to Australia. Rarely escapes from captivity in North America.

Adult

Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)

l

29.1"

ws

56"

wt

4.7 lbs (2,150 g)

Native to Asia. Rarely escapes from captivity in North America.

Adult

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

l

27"

ws

50"

wt

3.7 lb (1,700 g) ♂>♀

Native to Europe. Rare natural visitor to northeastern North America, but rare records in the West are presumably escapes from captivity.

Adult

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

l

27"

ws

56.5"

wt

4.25 lb (1,928 g)

Native to Africa. Small numbers are breeding in the wild in southern California, and escapes can be seen anywhere.

Adult

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

l

28"

ws

53"

wt

4.8 lb (2,200 g) ♂>♀

Generally uncommon and local even in its favored winter range. Brownish-gray overall. Orange legs very conspicuous. Beware confusion with similar barnyard Graylag Goose. Common honk a distinctive quick, high-pitched laughing or yelping; higher, clearer, with more rapid syllables than other geese; feeding flock gives low, buzzing chorus.

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Known as Tule Goose; uncommon, nests in southern and central Alaska, winters in central California. Averages larger and darker than Tundra form, bill orange-tinged. Often found on smaller and more wooded ponds.

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Compare hybrid domestic geese (see this page)

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Taiga and Tundra Bean-Goose

Tundra Bean-Goose (Anser serrirostris) and Taiga Bean-Goose (Anser fabalis) are very rare visitors to western Alaska, with a few records farther south and east. Note mostly dark bill, dark face, plain pale belly. Distinguishing Tundra from Taiga Bean-Goose requires careful attention to details of bill.

Tundra’s shorter bill averages less orange and has more obvious grin patch.

Brant

Branta bernicla

l

25"

ws

42"

wt

3.1 lb (1,400 g) ♂>♀

Locally common at favored shallow saltwater bays and estuaries, sometimes foraging on short grass fields, elsewhere uncommon to rare. Rarely mixes with other geese. A relatively small, coastal goose, overall blackish with white rear end. Usually shows thin white necklace. Note small black bill, black legs. A soft, gargling rrot or cronk; flocks produce a murmuring, gargling sound with little variation.

Black the expected subspecies in most of the West. It nests in western Arctic, winters on Pacific Coast. Gray-bellied nests on Prince Patrick Island, winters mainly around Puget Sound. Pale-bellied nests in eastern Arctic, winters along Atlantic Coast. Subspecies differ mainly in belly and flank color, slightly in necklace size and back color. No differences in voice, shape, etc. Note that juveniles of all forms have unpatterned gray flanks and belly, with white tips on wing coverts. Adults have mostly white flanks.

Black Brant

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Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

l

25"

ws

43"

wt

3.5 lb (1,600 g) ♂>♀

Locally common at a few key wintering and staging areas, elsewhere uncommon to rare. Forms pure flocks where common, otherwise mixes with flocks of Canada Geese. Very similar to Canada Goose. Distinguished by smaller size, relatively short neck and small bill, but some overlap with smallest Canada Geese. Also look for slightly grayish sheen on back. Call of Pacific forms distinctively high-pitched with cackling sound. Call of Richardson’s similar to Canada, averages slightly higher.

Aleutian and Pacific populations nest in western Alaska and winter along Pacific Coast. Richardson’s nests on arctic tundra and winters mainly mid-continent, with small numbers to Pacific Coast.

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Variation in bill length is extensive, with some overlap between, but bill averages relatively shorter and deeper on Cackling, but some overlap. Males average larger-billed. Hybrids occur, and some intermediate birds are not safely identifiable.

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Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

l

45"

ws

60"

wt

9.8 lb (4,500 g) ♂>♀

Very common and widespread, found on or near any body of water, from urban parks to tundra wetlands. Forms large flocks Aug–May, often seen grazing on lawns, golf courses, and farmland. Southern breeders nearly sedentary, northern birds highly migratory. Familiar call a loud, resonant, and musical honk h-ronk and h-lenk; flock chorus gentle, slow-paced, mellow; no harsh or sharp notes. Other soft, grunting calls. Voice very similar in all populations.

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Typical adult

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Adult Dusky

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Typical form is found throughout most of range. Darker subspecies such as Dusky nest along Pacific Coast from southern Alaska to British Columbia, winter south to California. Some Canada Geese from northern breeding populations can be small, approaching Cackling Goose.

Smaller adult

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occasional variants of all populations have dark cheeks or white forehead or white neck

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Emperor Goose

Chen canagica

l

26"

ws

47"

wt

6.1 lb (2,800 g)

Locally common in winter range, elsewhere uncommon to rare. Winters on salt water, mainly on sheltered bays and lagoons, but also along rocky coasts. Nests on wet coastal tundra. High-pitched, rapid, triple- or double-note tinny honk kla-ha like Snow Goose; also high, clear, trumpeting tedidi. Low grunting on ground.

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Ross’s Goose

Chen rossii

l

23"

ws

45"

wt

2.7 lb (1,250 g)

Locally common in its core winter range in California, elsewhere uncommon to rare, typically found in small numbers mixed with Snow Geese. Very similar to Snow Goose but smaller with relatively small bill, round head, short neck. White immature plumage is unlike dusky gray immature Snow Goose. Beware of hybrids with Snow Goose. Dark morph very rare. Slightly higher than Snow Goose.

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Snow Goose

Chen caerulescens

l

28"

ws

53"

wt

5.3 lb (2,420 g) ♂>♀

Locally common in a few key wintering areas, elsewhere uncommon to rare. In winter, forms large flocks that forage in agricultural fields and coastal salt marshes. Two color morphs. White morph told from all-white domestic geese by pink bill and legs, dark primaries. Hoarse honking call harsher and more raucous than other geese, recalling Great Blue Heron. Flock chorus slow-paced, with single honks on varied pitches; pitch range greater than other geese.

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Dark morph is rare in populations wintering in California and New Mexico, but the majority of Gulf Coast wintering population is dark.

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Goose Head and Bill Shapes

Ross’s Goose

round head, border of bill base straight and vertical, bluish bill base, little or no grin patch

Ross’s × Snow Goose hybrid

intermediate in size and bill structure

Snow Goose

wedge-shaped head; obvious black grin patch; strongly curved border at base of bill

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator

l

60"

ws

80"

wt

23 lb (10.5 kg) ♂>♀

Uncommon and very local, but increasing. Usually seen as pairs or family groups on shallow marshy ponds and lakes surrounded by trees. Larger flocks occur in favored wintering areas. Very similar to Tundra Swan, slightly larger, with longer bill. Best distinguished by details of bill shape and by voice. Less vocal and voice lower-pitched than Tundra Swan. Gentle nasal honking, like the honk of a European taxi.

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Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

l

49"

ws

75"

wt

13.7 lb (6,200 g) ♂>♀

Locally common in traditional staging and wintering areas, in large flocks on shallow lakes and agricultural fields; uncommon to rare elsewhere. Our smallest swan, but still larger and relatively longer-necked than any goose. Best distinguished from other swans by details of bill. A melancholy, clear, singing kloo or kwoo with hooting or barking quality. Distant flock sounds like baying hounds.

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Identification of Swans

Trumpeter

Tundra (American or Whistling)

Tundra (Eurasian or Bewick’s)

Bewick’s Tundra Swan a very rare visitor from Asia to the Pacific Coast, seen mostly among large flocks of Tundra Swans wintering in California.

Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

l

60"

ws

75"

wt

22 lb (10 kg) ♂>♀

Native to Europe. Occasionally released and seen in city parks, ponds, or rivers; typically in sheltered shallow water with plenty of submerged vegetation.

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Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnus

l

59"

ws

85"

wt

18.3 lb (8,300 g) ♂>♀

Small numbers winter in the Aleutian Islands east to Adak. Very rare visitor south to California, where some may be escaped from captivity. Most similar to Tundra (Bewick’s) Swan, but note larger size, longer bill, yellow extending farther forward on bill.

Adult

Dabbling Ducks

FAMILY: ANATIDAE

This group includes the familiar puddle ducks, including the ubiquitous Mallard. These species are found mainly on smaller ponds and marshes in shallow water, where they feed at the surface by dabbling their bills in the water or by upending to reach deeper; they rarely dive. Unlike most diving ducks, the dabbling ducks have legs placed farther forward on the body so that walking is easier, and they are able to take off directly from the water without running. Diet consists primarily of plant material including vegetation, seeds, or roots; small insect larvae, other invertebrates, and even fish and frogs may also be taken. Adult females are shown.

Genus Dendrocygna

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, this page

Fulvous Whistling-Duck, this page

Genus Cairina

Muscovy Duck, this page

Genus Aix

Wood Duck, this page

Genus Anas

Eurasian Wigeon, this page

American Wigeon, this page

American Black Duck, this page

Mallard, this page

Gadwall, this page

Northern Shoveler, this page

Northern Pintail, this page

Blue-winged Teal, this page

Cinnamon Teal, this page

Garganey, this page

Green-winged Teal, this page

Diving Ducks

Family: Anatidae

This is a much more diverse group than the dabbling ducks. As a rule, diving ducks are found on deeper water than dabblers, and they feed by diving underwater; but beware that dabblers can and do dive, and diving ducks will dabble in shallow water. Diving ducks have legs placed far back on the body and walk with difficulty; most require a running start to take off from the water. Diet varies from underwater plants to shellfish to fish and other prey, and habitat choices and bill shape vary accordingly. Adult females are shown.

Genus Aythya

Canvasback, this page

Redhead, this page

Ring-necked Duck, this page

Tufted Duck, this page

Greater Scaup, this page

Lesser Scaup, this page

Genus Bucephala

Common Goldeneye, this page

Barrow’s Goldeneye, this page

Bufflehead, this page

Genus Polysticta

Steller’s Eider, this page

Genus Histrionicus

Harlequin Duck, this page

Genus Clangula

Long-tailed Duck, this page

Genus Oxyura

Ruddy Duck, this page

Genus Somateria

Spectacled Eider, this page

King Eider, this page

Common Eider, this page

Genus Melanitta

Surf Scoter, this page