Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast

by Harry Thom Payne

Nest and Eggs—The nests are made close to the water's edge and contain about ten dirty white eggs.

Measurements—Wing, about 16 inches; bill, 2 ¹/₄ inches.

THE ROSS GOOSE, OR LITTLE WHITE GOOSE

(Chen rossii)

The Ross goose has been given the name of China goose by many who wanted some distinguishing nomenclature for them, when in fact the Ross goose is purely an American Pacific Coast bird. Like the snow goose it is pure white with black primary plumes. Young birds of both species are occasionally seen in the early part of the season more or less mottled on the breast with yellowish gray feathers. The Ross goose is only about half the size of the snow goose. Aside from this it can always be known by the warty appearance of the upper half of the bill. They are commonly seen, both in feeding and in their migrations, mixed in the flocks of the snow geese. Occasionally they are seen as far east as Utah and Montana, but only in small numbers.

The Ross goose migrates as far south as Central Mexico, great numbers of them congregating on Lake Chapala, in the state of Jalisco.

Color—Same as the snow goose.

Measurements—Wing, about 14 inches; bill, 2 ¹/₄, with warty excresences on the upper part.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, OR SPECKLE-BREAST (Anser albifrons gambeli)

WHITE FRONTED GOOSE