The greater white-fronted goose is a species of goose, closely related to the smaller lesser white-fronted goose. The greater white-fronted goose is migratory, breeding in northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia, and winters farther south in North America, Europe and Asia. It is named for the patch of white feathers bordering the base of its bill: albifrons comes from the Latin albus "white" and frons "forehead". In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it has been known as the white-fronted goose; in North America it is known as the greater white-fronted goose, and this name is also increasingly adopted internationally. Even more distinctive are the salt-and-pepper markings on the breast of adult birds, which is why the goose is colloquially called the "specklebelly" in North America.
Region
Arctic and subarctic North America and Eurasia
Typical Environment
Breeds on low Arctic tundra, river deltas, and wet meadows with nearby lakes or marshes. During migration and winter it uses estuaries, coastal marshes, inland wetlands, and extensive agricultural fields. It favors open habitats with shallow water and plentiful grasses or sedges. Roosting typically occurs on open water or sandbars with nearby feeding fields. Staging areas during migration can include large floodplains and reservoir shorelines.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as the 'specklebelly' in North America, adults show distinctive black barring on the belly and a white patch at the base of the bill. Several subspecies vary in size and darkness, including a larger, darker form in western Alaska and a bright-legged Greenland form. They migrate long distances between Arctic breeding grounds and temperate wintering areas, often flying in V-shaped formations. Long-lived for a goose, many pairs remain bonded for years.
Greater white-fronted goose in California
A. a. flavirostris, the Greenland subspecies
Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Temperament
social and wary
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats; often in V-shaped formations
Social Behavior
Forms large, vocal flocks outside the breeding season. Pairs often form long-term bonds and defend a small territory around the nest. Nests are ground scrapes lined with down, placed near water on open tundra. Family groups stay together through migration and into winter.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Calls are loud, laughing yodels and cackling notes, often given in rapid series during flight. On the ground they give conversational honks and murmurs that help keep flocks coordinated.
