Other names: Snoss's Goose

https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/12/identification-of-white-geese/

One of the more challenging hybrids to separate from pure parent species, given the similarity of Ross's and Snow Geese. Bill structure is intermediate between both parents. Overall proportions and size may be useful in addition to bill structure, but this is variable and should not be used alone. Many Ross's Geese can show a slight grin patch, so the presence of this feature does not necessarily indicate a hybrid. The structure of the bill base is useful; it is significantly concave on Snow Geese, and straight on most Ross's Geese. In hybrids, the bill base shape is intermediate, but some pure Ross's can show a subtle curve. Be wary of the bill shape of juvenile Ross's Geese especially. 

Similar only to pure Ross's and Snow Geese.

Media:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/348692391

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/128671301

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/49968781

Other names: Bro Goose, Snant, Snow Brant

Molt progression of one individual in southern Massachusetts.

A variable hybrid known from a few well-studied individuals. Larger than Brant. Adults can show different amounts of white throughout the body, even among presumed siblings. White sometimes throughout the majority of the body with only parts of the wings dark and Brant-like. Dark color can extend onto neck, head, and body.  Some individuals show limited Brant-like flank barring. Dark bill with variable pinkish mottling (sometimes paler grayish mottling). Legs pink to a sickly dull yellowy wash with pinkish undertones. Juveniles gray overall, superficially similar to juvenile Snow Goose. Pronounced scalloping on wings, obvious dark mane, and limited white flecking throughout. White flecking appears to begin on the face and neck as an individual ages. Individuals get more and more white feathers as they approach adult plumage. Juveniles  have mostly dark bills and duller grayish legs. Voice is intermediate between Snow Goose and Brant, though perhaps more like Snow Goose at times.

Juveniles superficially similar to juvenile Snow Goose. Adults similar to Snow x Barnacle Goose,  Ross's x Barnacle Goose, and probably Ross's Goose x Brant if one were to be found. This hybrid may have more pink in the bill than Snow x Barnacle. Dark feathers perhaps browner and less silvery than either hybrid involving Barnacle, though be aware that silvery feathers can be present in the wings in Snow Goose x Brant. Both hybrids involving Barnacle often show dark breasts and are perhaps more mottled throughout. Note also the subtle differences in the dark mane when apparent, though this may be variable. Snow Goose x Brant  appear to mostly associate with Brant flocks.

Media:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/207212531

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/190878201

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/83565591

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/611515820

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610843959

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610844203

📷

Adults usually with dark bodies and white heads and necks. Individuals involving a dark-morph Snow Goose parent are often darker overall, including on the head and neck. Body somewhat Canada-like but overall plain and nondescript, often with a pale belly but no real patterning. Bill dark/grayish to pink, legs grayish to pink. Juveniles often darker, especially with a dark-morph parent, but pale on cheeks. Individuals can be variable but they usually have a large bill, long neck, and overall bigger size and proportions.

This hybrid can be challenging given the similarity of Canada & Cackling Geese, and Snow & Ross's Geese. Compare with Ross's x Canada, Ross's x Cackling, and Snow x Cackling. Occasionally, the blueish coloration on the bill of Ross's will still appear in hybrids involving that species, but this is not always the case. Also be aware that some individuals can show grayish coloration in the bill, which can look bluer in some light; this can be the case for any of these four hybrids. If a dark-morph is involved, the pattern of the dark coloration appears differently in Ross's than it does in Snow Goose which can sometimes translate to hybrids. The best feature to look at however is the bill shape, size, and proportions. This hybrid will likely have the largest bill of these four; note especially its size as compared to the head. The bill will also have a pronounced concavity to its base (as on SNGO, CANG, and CACG, but not ROGO). This hybrid will have a long neck and will be fairly large. A combination of many ID features is especially important when separating these tricky four.

Media:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/194478231

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/194812431

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/194812421

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/190507471

Adults usually with dark bodies and white heads and necks. Individuals involving a dark-morph Snow Goose parent are often darker overall, including on the head and neck. Body somewhat Cackling-like but overall plain and nondescript, often with a pale belly but no real patterning. Bill dark/grayish to pink, legs grayish to pink. Juveniles often darker, especially with a dark-morph parent, but pale on cheeks. Individuals can be variable but they usually have an intermediate bill, neck, and overall medium size and proportions.

This hybrid can be challenging given the similarity of Canada & Cackling Geese, and Snow & Ross's Geese. Compare with Ross's x Canada, Ross's x Cackling, and Snow x Canada. Occasionally, the blueish coloration on the bill of Ross's will still appear in hybrids involving that species, but this is not always the case. Also be aware that some individuals can show grayish coloration in the bill, which can look bluer in some light; this can be the case for any of these four hybrids. If a dark-morph is involved, the pattern of the dark coloration appears differently in Ross's than it does in Snow Goose which can sometimes translate to hybrids. The best feature to look at however is the bill shape, size, and proportions. This hybrid will likely have a medium-sized bill; note especially its size as compared to the head. The bill will also have a pronounced concavity to its base (as on SNGO, CANG, and CACG, but not ROGO). This hybrid will have an intermediate neck and will usually be average sized. A combination of many ID features is especially important when separating these tricky four.

Media:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/645544706

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/122725591

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/406536881

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/406221861

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/406225391

Adults usually with dark bodies and white heads and necks. Individuals involving a dark-morph Ross's Goose parent are often darker overall, including on the head and neck. Body somewhat Canada-like but overall plain and nondescript, often with a pale belly (perhaps sometimes more mottled?). Bill dark/grayish to pink, occasionally with blueish coloration at its base. Legs grayish to pink. Juveniles often darker, especially with a dark-morph parent, but pale on cheeks. Individuals can be variable but they usually have an intermediate bill (especially note the shape of the bill base), neck, and overall medium size and proportions.

This hybrid can be challenging given the similarity of Canada & Cackling Geese, and Snow & Ross's Geese. Compare with Snow x Cackling, Ross's x Cackling, and Snow x Canada. Occasionally, the blueish coloration on the bill of Ross's will still appear in hybrids involving that species, but this is not always the case. Also be aware that some individuals can show grayish coloration in the bill, which can look bluer in some light; this can be the case for any of these four hybrids. If a dark-morph is involved, the pattern of the dark coloration appears differently in Ross's than it does in Snow Goose which can sometimes translate to hybrids. The best feature to look at however is the bill shape, size, and proportions. This hybrid will likely have a medium-sized bill; note especially its size as compared to the head. The bill will also have a less pronounced concavity to its base (as that of SNGO, CANG, and CACG is concave, but straight on ROGO). This hybrid will have an intermediate neck and will usually be average sized. A combination of many ID features is especially important when separating these tricky four.

Media:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192764387

Adults usually with dark bodies and white heads and necks. Individuals involving a dark-morph Ross's Goose parent are often darker overall, including on the head and neck. Body somewhat Cackling-like but overall plain and nondescript, often with a pale belly. Bill dark/grayish to pink, occasionally with blueish coloration at its base. Legs grayish to pink. Juveniles often darker, especially with a dark-morph parent, but pale on cheeks. Individuals can be variable but this is the smallest hybrid of the confusing four. They usually have a small bill (especially note the shape of the bill base), short neck, and overall tiny size and proportions.

This hybrid can be challenging given the similarity of Canada & Cackling Geese, and Snow & Ross's Geese. Compare with Snow x Cackling, Ross's x Canada, and Snow x Canada. Occasionally, the blueish coloration on the bill of Ross's will still appear in hybrids involving that species, but this is not always the case. Also be aware that some individuals can show grayish coloration in the bill, which can look bluer in some light; this can be the case for any of these four hybrids. If a dark-morph is involved, the pattern of the dark coloration appears differently in Ross's than it does in Snow Goose which can sometimes translate to hybrids. The best feature to look at however is the bill shape, size, and proportions. This hybrid will likely have a small bill; note especially its size as compared to the head. The bill will also have a less pronounced concavity to its base (as that of SNGO, CANG, and CACG is concave, but straight on ROGO). This hybrid will have a short neck and will usually be obviously tiny. A combination of many ID features is especially important when separating these tricky four.

Media:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/81988061

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/128873111

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/134715821

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/126698041

Helpful post regarding the ID of this hybrid.

And a more thorough version of that post in Bird Observer.

The quintessential domestic goose hybrid.  Given both parents' extensive domestic history, this hybrid is extremely variable. Bill structure is usually useful, with a bill knob indicating domestic Swan Goose input. An orange bill on a bird with no white plumage is usually indicative of Graylag input.  Apparent contrasting manes are indicative of Swan Goose, and prominent neck ruffles are indicative of Graylag.

Some individuals similar to Bar-headed x Swan Goose.
Media:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/281542131, https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/262428651 - both of these examples appear to be (close to?) wild-types. See Bird Hybrids for more examples of wild-type Graylag x Swan Geese.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/191151931

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/301386471

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/301386891

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/301386451

Helpful post regarding the ID of this hybrid.

And a more thorough version of that post in Bird Observer.

A variable hybrid often involving domestic Graylag Goose. Bill orange or pinkish. Variable white throughout the body when a domestic parent is involved. Legs often orangey or pinkish.

Similar to Swan x Canada Goose. Bill usually orange or pinkish whereas that of Swan x Canada tends to be dark. Base of upper mandible not swollen. Cheek patch sometimes less pale and broad. Bill structure and color are most important. Also similar to Greater White-fronted x Canada Goose; Graylag x Canada Geese tend to be paler overall, have larger thicker proportions, larger bills, and often more extensive white plumage. When Greater White-fronted x Canadas have white plumage, it's usually restricted to the head and neck at most. Be aware that GWFG x CANG often show more extensive white than either parent species.

Media:

Illustration

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/420509551

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/185673281

📷- Comparison of the shape of the base of the bill. Note the flatter vertical appearance of both Swan Goose and Graylag Goose, and the more angular pushed-in shape of Canada Goose. Graylag x Canada Goose and Swan x Canada Goose hybrids tend to have an intermediate shape between these two.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/315816131

Helpful post regarding the ID of this hybrid.

And a more thorough version of that post in Bird Observer.

Large, variable, long-necked hybrid. Usually involving domestic Swan Goose. Bill often dark with a swollen base. Variable white throughout the body, but often in large chunks on the underside. Legs often orangey.

Similar to Graylag x Canada Goose. Bill usually dark whereas Graylag x Canada tend to have orangey or pinkish bills. Swollen base of upper mandible indicated Swan Goose input. Cheek patch sometimes paler and broader, and large white chunks of plumage on the underside are more characteristic of this hybrid. Bill structure and color are most important.

Media:

📷- Comparison of the shape of the base of the bill. Note the flatter vertical appearance of both Swan Goose and Graylag Goose, and the more angular pushed-in shape of Canada Goose. Graylag x Canada Goose and Swan x Canada Goose hybrids tend to have an intermediate shape between these two.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/176585131

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/77543271

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/387263651

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/245720119

https://waarnemingen.be/media/photo/10128513.jpg

https://www.artportalen.se/Image/821944

Dark hybrid with usually orange legs. Bill orange to pinkish bill, often with a yellowy base. Often mottled white on the face and neck. Dark cheek patches.

Similar to Graylag x Canada Goose. This hybrid tends to be darker overall, have smaller, thinner proportions, smaller bills, and often less extensive white plumage. The white plumage is usually restricted to the head and neck at most. Be aware that this hybrid often shows more extensive white than either parent species. Similar also to Greater White-fronted x Cackling Goose which is eliminated due to larger more CANG-like proportions.

Media:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/151516773

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/258266269

Dark hybrid with usually orange legs. Bill orange to pinkish bill, often with a yellowy base. Often mottled white on the face and neck. Dark cheek patches.

Be aware that this hybrid often shows more extensive white than either parent species. Similar to Greater White-fronted x Canada Goose which is eliminated due to smaller more CACG-like proportions.

Media:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/403780541

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/647040017

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/647040014

Media:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257710209

Media:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142741041

Media:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/278375190