Ross's Goose in Lake County
2014-09-26

Common in Lake County in the Fall season

This juvenile Ross's Goose was found 24 September on the golf course in Two Harbors and was still visible from the parking lot in the company of six Snow Geese into this past weekend. Besides its overall smaller size, its identity was determined by its shorter, "stubbier" bill, the relatively straight vertical line where the base of the bill meets the face (not as curved as on Snow Goose), and its whiter overall plumage: i.e., nearly as white as an adult (the overall plumage of juvenile Snow Goose is darker gray). Also note there can be a black line along the cutting edges of the bill on juvenile Ross's Goose, somewhat suggesting the "grinning patch" on a Snow Goose.

Kim R. Eckert. "Digiscope" image with 25-50x Leica spotting scope.