Snow Goose (blue morph)

Chen caerulescens
Goose family (Anatidae)

Habitat:
Wetlands, lakes.

Description:
About the same size as a Canada Goose.  Body largely dark gray-brown except for white head and upper neck; pink bill. White-phase birds are snow white throughout except for black at the tips of their wings.   

Nesting:
Nest of grasses and down is placed on dry ground near water. 
Eggs are white.  Clutch size – 3 to 5 eggs.  Male and female form life-long pair bonds.

Voice:
A high-pitched honking.

Name Origin:
Chen, Greek for “goose”;
caerulescens, Latin for ”bluish”. 

In the Nature Park:
Migrant.  A pair of Snow Geese is seen almost every year at the Quarry Pond during early spring, but they have never stayed to nest.