Greater White-fronted Goose vs Upland Goose
Anser albifrons compared with Chloephaga picta
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Greater White-fronted Goose | Upland Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser albifrons | Chloephaga picta |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 81.6 cm (32.1 in) | 82.4 cm (32.4 in) |
| Weight | 2471.0 g (87.16 oz) | 2916.0 g (102.86 oz) |
| Diet | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; diet shifts heavily toward invertebrates in breeding … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 5-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Greater White-fronted Goose only
Upland Goose only
None
Greater White-fronted Goose
Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra and peatlands. Winters on estuaries, agricultural fields, freshwater marshes, and flooded meadows across Europe, Asia, and North America. One of the most widespread geese.
Upland Goose
Open Patagonian grasslands, steppe, and agricultural pastures in southern Chile and Argentina, including the Falkland Islands. Grazes on short grass. Males aggressively defend territories. Partially migratory.
Song & Call Comparison
Greater White-fronted Goose
A loud, laughing 'kow-lyuk' or musical 'wah-wah'. Gives a distinctive high-pitched yodeling quality lacking in Greylag. Highly vocal in large winter flocks.
Upland Goose
Male gives a high, whistled 'whew'; female gives a low, rolling cackle 'ga-ga-ga'. Sexual differences in call are pronounced. Falklands and Patagonian populations highly vocal.
Geographic Range & Migration
Greater White-fronted Goose
Breeds in the potholes region of the northern Great Plains; winters in the southern United States and along the Gulf Coast.
Upland Goose
Conservation Status
Greater White-fronted Goose
Upland Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brown-gray body with white forehead patch bordered by white band at bill base. Underparts with bold irregular black bars on belly. Orange bill; orange-yellow legs. Juveniles lack white front and …
Upland Goose
Pronounced dimorphism. Males white with black-barred flanks and white wings with black primaries. Females rufous-brown with black-barred flanks and white belly. Both sexes yellow-orange legs. Grassland species.
About These Birds
Greater White-fronted Goose
A medium-large goose with a white forehead patch, orange bill, grey-brown plumage, and variable black barring on the belly. Widespread and numerous; one of the most abundant geese in the world. Breeds across the high Arctic; winters in a wide range of temperate wetland and agricultural habitats.
Upland Goose
A large sheldgoose with strong sexual dimorphism: males are white with black back barring; females are warm brown with barred flanks. Common in Patagonian and Falkland Islands grasslands. Gregarious; forms large flocks outside breeding season. Grazes on short grass and agricultural land.