Greater White-fronted Goose vs Andean Goose

Anser albifrons comparé à Chloephaga melanoptera

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Greater White-fronted Goose Andean Goose
Nom scientifique Anser albifrons Chloephaga melanoptera
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 81,6 cm (32.1 in) 86,3 cm (34.0 in)
Poids 2471,0 g (87.16 oz) 2617,5 g (92.33 oz)
Régime alimentaire Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; diet shifts heavily toward invertebrates in breeding … Eats grasses, seeds, molluscs, and aquatic invertebrates; wades in shallow water; diet includes invertebrates year-round.
Taille de la couvée 3-9 5-10
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Greater White-fronted Goose only

Andean Goose only

Aucun(e)

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.

Andean Goose

High-altitude puna grassland, bofedales (cushion bogs), and lakeshores at 3,500–5,500 m in the Andes from Peru through Bolivia and Chile to northwestern Argentina. Grazes beside glacial and alpine lakes.

Song & Call Comparison

Greater White-fronted Goose

Chant

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.

Andean Goose

Chant

A loud, cackling 'kek-kek-kek' from high-altitude Andean puna. Pairs are territorial and vocal. Calls carry well across open altiplano above 4,000 m elevation.

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.

Andean Goose

Formerly widespread on the Mascarene Island of Réunion. Extinct in the 17th century; extirpated by hunting and introduced predators.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Greater White-fronted Goose

Least Concern

Andean Goose

How to Tell Them Apart

Greater White-fronted Goose

Plumage

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 …

Andean Goose

Plumage

Entirely white plumage except black-tipped primaries and black tail. Bill and legs coral-pink. Larger than most Chloephaga. Sexes similar. Inhabits high Andean lakes and grasslands above 3,000 m.

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.

Andean Goose

A large white-and-black sheldgoose with a distinctive black-tipped pink-and-black bill, bright pink legs, and black wings. Endemic to high Andean puna. One of the highest-living birds in the Americas; found beside glacial lakes and streams. Monogamous; highly territorial during breeding.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family