Ross's Goose

Anser rossii

Introduction

Ross's Goose is a like a compact version of a Snow Goose, and is a very rare vagrant from North America.

The status of Ross's Goose is clouded by presumed escaped individuals that sometimes join wintering goose flocks, making it difficult to ascertain which individuals are truly of wild origin. The species was added to the British List on the basis of a bird in Lancashire in the winter of 1970/71.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Seasonality

<1%

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Seasonality

Open Close

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Ross's Goose movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Ross's Goose, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Ross's Goose

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Scientific name: Anser rossii

BTO 2-letter code: RJ
Euring code number: 1640

Alternate species names

Open Close

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.