Geese are usually larger than ducks and have long necks. Geese are able to walk easily on land but do not dive underwater.
Arizona hosts several goose species, most notably the native Canada Goose, along with spectacular winter visitors such as Snow and Ross’s Geese. Beginning in October, migrating flocks descend on the state’s reservoirs, wetlands, and flood-irrigated agricultural fields to feed on grains, grasses, and aquatic vegetation. Over the past few decades, the Canada Goose has transitioned from a scarce winter visitor to an increasingly common resident, nesting along urban lake shores and river corridors from Phoenix northward. Snow Geese, including both white and blue-morph individuals, can number in the tens of thousands on the Colorado River’s marshes near Yuma, while the pint-sized Ross’s Goose occasionally joins these gatherings. By early spring, most geese depart for Arctic and subarctic breeding grounds, underscoring Arizona’s vital role as a winter refuge for these charismatic waterfowl.
