White-Fronted Goose - Grouse Hunting - Upland Hunting
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Description
These game birds derive their name from their distinctive white band found at the base of their bill. The head, neck, and upper part of white-fronted geese are grayish brown. On the other hand, the rump and lower back regions are dark brown. The tail is dark brown, although it is edged with white. The breast and chest of speckledbelly geese are grayish with blotches ranging from dark brown to black. The breast area also has bars that make white-fronted geese have ‘specklebelly' nickname. These birds have orange legs and feet with a pinkish bill. However, the belly region, upper, and lower coverts are mainly white. These birds measure 69 – 83 cm in length, weigh 1,600 – 3,300g, and have a wingspan of 138 cm. Although both sexes have a similar appearance, male geese are larger.
Habitat
Main habitats are prairies, fields, bays, lakes, marshes, and tundra areas during the summer season. However, in winter, these birds prefer agricultural fields mainly to forage. Also, they prefer shallow waters or wetlands for roosting.
Diet
White-fronted goose mainly feed on plant material. In winter, they feed waste grain in fields, seeds and also grazes on new growth. In summer, these geese feed on roots of grasses, sedges, stems, berries, horsetails, buds, and other plants. Sometimes, these game birds feed on aquatic insects and snails.
These birds forage while walking on land. They pick up items, but when swimming or in water, they submerge their head and a part of their neck looking for food.
Nesting
When breeding, male geese have triumphant displays where the male attacks another goose/bird briefly then returns to the female with its outstretched, and their wings partly open. Both male and female speckledbelly geese also call out loudly when mating.
Besides building their nest on the ground, these game birds breed in wetlands/near a source of water. For protection, the nest is surrounded by grass, low shrubs, or sedges. Females build the nest in a shallow depression lined with plant material.
Eggs
Females lay 3 to 6 or 1 to 8 dull white eggs. Females mainly do incubation for 22 to 27 days. It only takes a short while for young geese to start walking and swimming, looking for food. After 38 to 45 days, young ones can start making short flights, although they remain with their parents for about a year.
