Pink-footed Goose Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPink-footed Goose
A medium-sized goose with a dark brown head, a lighter brown neck and breast, dark flanks, and light blue-gray to brownish upperparts. The short, stubby bill is mostly dark with a variable pink mark. The legs and feet are pink.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 23, 2016In flight, note the mainly light gray upperwings and darker underwings. The white tail has a dark grayish band and a broad white tip.
© Frank King / Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, April 29, 2019Grazes on grasses and agricultural crops during the winter.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, February 21, 2017(with Canada Goose)
Rare in the United States and Canada, but when found here, usually in the company of larger Canada Geese.
© Sam Zhang / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 08, 2016Nests on arctic tundra or on rocky cliffs, outcrops, or pinnacles.
© Christophe Gouraud / Macaulay LibrarySvalbard, June 27, 2016Gathers in large flocks on wintering grounds.
© Ric Else / Macaulay LibraryEngland, November 30, 2016Similar SpeciesTundra Bean-Goose
Tundra Bean-Goose has a heavier bill than Pink-footed Goose, with darker brown upperparts and orange legs and feet.
© Volkov Sergey / Macaulay LibraryNenets Autonomous Okrug, June 17, 2016Similar SpeciesTundra Bean-Goose
In flight, Tundra Bean-Goose is much darker above than Pink-footed Goose. Tundra Bean-Goose has a broader dark tail band and a very narrow white tip to the tail.
© Volker Hesse / Macaulay LibraryNiedersachsen, January 29, 2011Similar SpeciesTaiga Bean-Goose
Taiga Bean-Goose is slightly larger than Pink-footed Goose, with a longer, heavier bill, darker brown upperparts, and orange legs and feet.
© Isolith Huang / Macaulay LibraryNew Taipei City, November 29, 2020Similar SpeciesTaiga Bean-Goose
In flight, Taiga Bean-Goose is much darker above than Pink-footed Goose. Taiga Bean-Goose has a broader dark tail band and a very narrow white tip to the tail.
© Jeremiah Trimble / Macaulay LibraryDornod, June 29, 2012Similar SpeciesGraylag Goose
Graylag Goose is much larger than Pink-footed Goose, with a lighter head, darker upperparts, and a larger orange (or pink) bill.
© Lukasz Pulawski / Macaulay LibraryScotland, March 19, 2016Similar SpeciesGraylag Goose
Graylag Goose has paler gray upperwing patches than Pink-footed Goose, contrasting with a dark back (versus grayish back in Pink-footed Goose).
© Rui Pereira | Portugal Birding / Macaulay LibraryLisboa, January 28, 2022Similar SpeciesGreater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose has an all-orange bill bordered by a white patch on the face. Greater White-fronted Goose has darker upperparts than Pink-footed Goose, black speckling on the belly (which Pink-footed lacks), and orange legs and feet.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, April 27, 2020Similar SpeciesGreater White-fronted Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose appears much darker in flight than Pink-footed Goose, with darker wings and a browner back.
© André Lanouette / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, December 04, 2022Similar SpeciesCanada Goose
Canada Goose is larger than Pink-footed Goose, with browner upperparts, a black neck, and a black head with a white cheek patch. Canada Goose’s bill and legs are black.
© Matthew Plante / Macaulay LibraryOhio, March 10, 2021Similar SpeciesCanada Goose
In flight, Canada Goose shows a lighter breast than Pink-footed Goose and all-brown wings.
© Daniel Grossi / Macaulay LibraryOhio, March 23, 2019Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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