Snow Goose
Snow GooseSnow GooseSnow GooseSnow Goose

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Elk Island National Park
23 Verified records at Elk Island National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The snow goose (Anser caerulescens) is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed in the genus Chen, but is now typically included in the "gray goose" genus Anser. Snow geese breed north of the timberline in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and the northeastern tip of Siberia, and spend winters in warm parts of North America from southwestern British Columbia through parts of the United States to Mexico. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Snow Goose sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 23 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Elk Island National Park

Greater White-fronted Goose
LC

Greater White-fronted Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser albifrons

<5% · Rare
Ross's Goose
LC

Ross's Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anser rossii

Insufficient data
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

80–90% · Very likely
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

60–70% · Likely
Blue-winged Teal
LC

Blue-winged Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula discors

60–70% · Likely
Lesser Scaup
LC

Lesser Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya affinis

50–60% · Likely
Bufflehead
LC

Bufflehead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala albeola

50–60% · Likely
Gadwall
LC

Gadwall

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca strepera

50–60% · Likely
Common Goldeneye
LC

Common Goldeneye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala clangula

50–60% · Likely
American Wigeon

American Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca americana

30–40% · Possible
Common Teal
LC

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

30–40% · Possible
Ring-necked Duck
LC

Ring-necked Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya collaris

30–40% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
5–10
Sep
30–40
Oct
5–10
Nov
<5
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
2 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
3 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
4 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
5 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
6 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
7 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
8 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
10 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
11 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
13 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
14 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
15 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
16 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
<5%
17 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
18 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
20 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
24 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
25 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
26 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
27 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
28 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
29 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
30 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
31 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
32 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
33 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
34 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
35 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
36 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Insufficient data
37 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
38 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
39 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Snow Goose in Elk Island National Park?

About 4% of wildlife watchers report a Snow Goose sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 23 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Snow Goose in Elk Island National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Snow Goose in Elk Island National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Elk Island National Park