Snow geese are medium-sized waterfowl known for their predominantly white plumage, accented by black wingtips. These birds undertake extensive annual migrations. Their journeys connect diverse North American environments, making them a widely recognized species.
Breeding Grounds
Snow geese breed in the high Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra regions of North America. Major nesting areas include the Canadian Arctic, northern Alaska, parts of northwestern Greenland, and northeastern Siberia (Wrangel Island). These remote environments are suitable for raising their young during the short summer months.
Females select nest sites on slight rises or hummocks, often near water sources, providing good visibility for predator detection. The nests are shallow depressions lined with plant material and down. The availability of vegetation, such as grasses and sedges, is important for goslings, which begin foraging shortly after hatching.
Wintering Grounds
After the breeding season, snow geese undertake long flights south to their wintering grounds across the southern United States and Mexico. Key wintering regions include the Gulf Coast in states like Texas and Louisiana, and the Central Valley of California. Populations also winter along the Atlantic Coast, ranging from Massachusetts down to North Carolina, with significant concentrations in areas like the Delaware and Chesapeake bays.
In Mexico, wintering geese can be found in the high plains, extending as far south as Veracruz. These areas provide warmer climates and abundant food resources during the non-breeding season. Historically, snow geese mainly utilized coastal marshes for wintering, but they have increasingly adapted to foraging in agricultural fields.
Migration Routes
Snow geese follow migratory flyways between their Arctic breeding grounds and southern wintering areas. These birds travel thousands of miles, moving south from late August through December and north from February to May. They fly at high altitudes, reaching up to 20,000 feet, and are observed in large, V-shaped formations.
North America’s major flyways—the Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic—are used by different snow goose populations. The Lesser Snow Goose, for instance, primarily uses the Central, Mississippi, and Pacific Flyways, while the Greater Snow Goose is largely associated with the Atlantic Flyway. These routes include traditional stopover points, important for resting and feeding.
Preferred Habitats
Snow geese adapt to various environments but prefer open, flat landscapes across their range. During the breeding season, they inhabit Arctic tundra wetlands, including areas near ponds, shallow lakes, and coastal salt marshes. These habitats offer access to water and vegetation, along with open sightlines that aid in detecting predators.
During migration and in winter, their habitat preferences expand to include coastal marshes, estuaries, and freshwater wetlands. Increasingly, snow geese have adapted to agricultural fields, where they forage on waste grains such as corn, wheat, and rice, as well as pasture grasses. Large open wetlands, lakes, or flooded agricultural fields serve as roosting sites, providing safety and space for thousands of birds.