All of the Snow geese above that appear mottled in coloration are juveniles. The sole adult in the image is snow white in color. The snow white adults are quite difficult to tell apart but the mottled in appearance juveniles appear to have their own distinct pattern perhaps best seen on the face as their plumage evolves.

Oft times you have to work with the lighting you are given. I was pleased with how this came out despite the back-lit situation.

Tags:   juvenile snow geese snow geese bosque del apache nwr

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In a big big world there's always some one with whom you have something in common.

These two are "blue geese" once thought to be a species in itself as recently as the mid 1900's. Now it is recognized that this is a dark morph of the snow geese species. It is less common in the west (but increasing in prevalence over time) and more common in the east. At Bosque del Apache this year less than one percent of the snow geese population was of the dark morph variety.

Tags:   blue geese dark morph of snow geese snow geese

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This image shows the larger and more common Snow Goose (on top) versus the smaller and rarer Ross's Goose. The Snow Goose shows the grin patch on the beak, a larger and more curved proximal bill where it joins the face, and some buff coloration on the anterior face near the beak. Note the difference in the shape of the head between the two species.

Bosque del Apache NWR. New Mexico. 1/18/2014.

1/2000 f6.3 ISO 200 300 mm +.7EV tripod with wimberley head

Tags:   snow goose versus ross's goose bosque del apache nwr snow goose versus ross's goose in flight

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Bosque del Apache NWR. 1/18/2014.

Tags:   snow goose in flight snow goose

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Bosque del Apache NWR. 1/18/2014.

Tags:   ross goose ross's goose ross goose in flight

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