Snow goose

Juvenile snow goose in gray plumage swimming beside dry reeds, with a dark bill and reflections in the water, Manitoba

The snow goose is a medium-sized goose that comes in two color forms: a white form with black wing tips, and a dark “blue” form. Young birds, like the one here, are a smoky gray-brown and gradually turn white over their first winter.

Snow geese nest in large colonies on the Arctic tundra and migrate south in huge, noisy flocks. In Manitoba they are most often seen in spring and fall as they stop to rest and feed in fields and on wetlands, and in autumn the flocks can number in the thousands.

There is something striking about the clean white plumage and black wingtips of a snow goose, especially in a big flock.

To learn more about this bird and its habitat, visit the snow goose page at All About Birds.

Snow goose Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the snow goose in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the snow goose nests and migrates, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the snow goose in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Hudson Plains and the Southern Arctic (gold) and passing through the Boreal Shield, the Taiga Shield, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies in spring and fall (lilac). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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