Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)

Snow Goose
Chen caerulescens

The *Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)* breeds on the tundra of far northern Canada and winters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States as well as locations in New Mexico, California and elsewhere. It is a very common species and thousands may be seen in wintering flocks. The initial images on this page were all taken in December, 1999, at Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico. The shots were all taken with Canon EOS 1N bodies and several lenses from an EF 600mm F/4 L and 1.4X extender to a 17-35mm F/2.8 wide angle. All were taken on Fuji Velvia. Also see the page with Snow Geese and Ross's Geese together.
There are dark and white Snow Geese. The dark ones, often called "Blue Geese", are simply a color morph of the same species. This shot shows an individual of each morph. Generally, the white ones far outnumber the dark ones at most locations.
The next three images show individual Snow Geese in flight; all preparing to land.






The shot shown here of Snow Geese in flight is a digital capture at Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico, in November, 2005. This image, and those following, were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens.





The image at right and those following were taken in November, 2006, at Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 600mm F/4 lens.













The next shots shows a "Blue Goose" landing with a regular Snow Goose. The Blue Goose is a color morph of the Snow Goose but is considered the same species.



Adult Blue Goose
An adult (white head) and an immature Blue Goose.
Another immature Blue Goose in flight







The next two shots of an adult Blue Goose were taken at Bosque del Apache N.W.R., in November, 2009, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an 800mm F/5.6 L IS lens.

The next 14 images of Snow Geese were taken in November, 2011, at Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico, in November, 2011. On the right an immature Snow Goose is shows resting on water.
An immature Snow Goose is on the right while an adult blue form Snow Goose is on the left.
Two adults in flight







Adult Snow Goose vocalizing


Adult blue form Snow Goose in flight
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens "Blue Goose" in flight Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico 26 November 2011
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico 15 January 2015
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Bosque del Apache N.W.R., Socorro Co., New Mexico 15 January 2015
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens immature Bastrop Co., Texas 11 January 2018