Snow goose

Chen caerulescens (Anser caerulescens)

Sneeuwgans / Schneegans / Oie des neiges

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern (IUCN, 2009).

The Blue Snowgeese where regarded as a seperate subspecies until 1961, when it was finally acknowledged that dark morph birds merely represented a distinct color variant. Snowgeese are larger than Ross' geese (Chen rossii), of which is known a rare dark morph as well, called Blue Ross' geese. While Lesser Snow geese are prevalent in waterfowl collections worldwide, pure Greater Snowgeese have become more scarce in Europe.

Above: Greater Snowgoose (Chen caerulescens atlantica)

Above: Lesser Snowgoose, blue morph juvenile (Chen caerulescens caerulescens)

Above: Lesser Snowgoose, blue morph adult (Chen caerulescens caerulescens)