Ross's Goose Anser rossii (Cassin, 1861)    Synonyms: Chen rossii, ROGO.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Anseriformes   >   Family Anatidae   >   Genus Anser   

Status:

Rare but regular in winter in large goose flocks, especially among Snow Goose flocks on the Eastern Shore. Rare, but steadily increasing on the Western Shore, almost exclusively with Canada Goose flocks.

Description:

Small white goose with black wingtips. Compare larger Snow Goose. Ross's Goose is much smaller and has a smaller, stubbier bill with no grin patch. It is rounder headed and has a shorter neck.

Where to find:

Open fields and marshes on the Eastern Shore.

Relationships:

Nearly always found in large flocks of other geese, especially Snow Geese.

There are 133 records in the project database.

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A Ross's Goose in Howard Co., Maryland (11/19/2014). Photo by Jeff Culler. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Carroll Co., Maryland (1/26/2017). Photo by Kurt Schwarz. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Howard Co., Maryland (11/16/2014). Photo by Sue Earp. (MBP list)

Ross's Goose in Frederick Co., Maryland (1/18/2018). No rights reserved. Photo by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Harford Co., Maryland (2/1/2018). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Ross's Goose in Howard Co., Maryland (1/8/2016). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Worcester Co., Maryland (11/23/2015). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

An immature Ross's Goose among several thousand Snow Geese in Hurlock, Maryland (11/29/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

An immature Ross's Goose in Hurlock, Maryland (11/29/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

Ross's Goose in Montgomery Co., Maryland (1/27/2023). (c) Dave Roberts, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dave Roberts. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose at Terminus in Cumberland, Allegany Co., Maryland (11/29/2014). First record for Allegany County. Photo by Tim Carney. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/28/2016). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Carroll Co., Maryland (1/25/2017). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Washington Co., Maryland (12/23/2017). First county record for Washington Co. found by John Hubbell. Last county record for Maryland, not including Baltimore City, which still needs a record. Photo by John Hubbell. (MBP list)

Ross's Goose in Washington Co., Maryland (12/23/2017). First record for Washington Co. found by John Hubbell. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Owings Mills, Maryland (2/17/2013). First county record found by Andy Smith. Photo by Jeff Culler. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in Garrett Co., Maryland (12/8/2016). Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

A group of Ross's Geese in flight in Harford Co., Maryland (12/8/2016). Photo by Emily Carter Mitchell. (MBP list)

Ross's Goose (far left) and Snow Geese, Kibler Road, Queen Anne's CO., Maryland (1/31/2009). Photo by Mikey Lutmerding. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose in flight over Owings Mills, Maryland (2/18/2013). First county record found by Andy Smith. Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A Ross's Goose found with Canada Geese and Snow Geese at Great Oak Pond, Kent Co., Maryland (10/10/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Ross's Geese in flight over St. Mary's Co., Maryland (12/10/2013). First record for St. Mary's Co. found by Mikey Lutmerding. Photo by Mikey Lutmerding. (MBP list)

Ross's Goose in Frederick Co., Maryland (12/1/2014). Photo by Andy Wilson. (MBP list)

A group of Ross's Geese with Canada Geese in Baltimore Co., Maryland (12/5/2016). Photo by Kye Jenkins. (MBP list)


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