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All About Birds

Snow Goose

Overview
ID Info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Snow Goose Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
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New York, March 29, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library
Calls
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California, January 18, 2018Recorded by Paul Marvin | Macaulay Library
Calls
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California, March 12, 2012Recorded by Paul Marvin | Macaulay Library
Calls
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California, January 19, 2018Recorded by Paul Marvin | Macaulay Library
Flock calls
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Louisiana, January 12, 2020Recorded by Robert Dobbs | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Snow Geese are possibly the noisiest of all waterfowl. Their main call, made by both males and females, is a nasal, one-syllable honk given at any hour of the day or night, at any time of year, in the air or on the ground. Distant calling flocks are reminiscent of a pack of baying hounds. Birds less than a year old have a clearer and higher-pitched whistle. Family groups use a series of guttural notes to communicate with each other while feeding. Parents make a fast, quiet series of notes as a brood call to round up goslings. During nesting, they use a penetrating alarm call that varies in intensity. The flight call is a continuous chorus of shrill cries, hoarse honks, and high-pitched quacks, audible both day and night.

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Species in This Family

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family:Anatidae)

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More to Read

Bird Academy
All About Feathers
Building Skills: The 4 Keys to Bird Identification
NestWatch
Right Bird, Right House: Guide to Birds and Birdhouses for Your Region

Why Birds Hit Windows—and How You Can Help Prevent It
Bird ID Skills: How to Learn Bird Songs and Calls
eBird
eBird: Help & FAQ

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