The White-fronted Goose (Goose) is a wild waterfowl from the duck family.
In this article we will look at where the white-fronted goose lives, especially the color and life cycle, as well as differences from other species.
- Description and photo
- Where does it live?
- Life cycle
- Nutrition
- Breeding features
Description and photo
Adults have a pockmarked brownish-gray color, which is much lighter on the abdomen and on the breast than on the back; the feathers are bordered with white at the edges. On the belly there are blotches of black feathers, which eventually become much wider and brighter. In adults, the beak is pinkish in color with a small white spot at the base, this feature gave the species its name. Paws in young stock are yellowish-orange, in adult geese - orange-red.
Where does it live?
The nesting places where the white-fronted goose lives are quite extensive.These are mainly tundra of North America, Eurasia and Greenland. In more southern regions this bird does not nest, only winters, prefers grassy or marshland for living, closer to rivers or other fresh water bodies. During the flight, the geese can be found in the west of Ukraine, Russia and some European countries.
Life cycle
Geese are excellent swimmers and in moments of danger they can dive for a short time. Despite the fact that it is a waterfowl species that nests mainly near water bodies, birds spend most of their time on land, graze in the fields and return to the water in the evening. 
In the life cycle, there are several phases characteristic of the migratory species of birds:
- laying and hatching eggs - usually begins in the middle of summer, hatching lasts about a month;
- brood driving - the brood is also growing for about a month, and by the time of migration to the southern regions, the chicks are already fully ready to fly over long distances;
- moult;
- pre-migration zhirivat - while the chicks are growing up, the flock is eaten off for the winter flight;
- migration and wintering - this species migrates rather early, at the end of August - beginning of September, the first flocks begin to serve, choosing the coast of the Black, as well as the Caspian and Mediterranean seas for wintering;
- spring fat - in spring goose flocks also actively absorb food before the flight;
- reverse migration;
- pre nesting feeding;
Nutrition
The white-fronted goose is a herbivore feathered, mostly preferring plants enriched with protein and algae. During the period when there are berries, these birds willingly eat them, and under special conditions they may even eat the rhizomes of some plants.
Breeding features
Females build their nests near low shrubs or on hills made of pasture materials, richly lined with their own fluff, which they pull at themselves and gather during shedding. The female lays an average of 4 to 7 eggs and incubates them for 25-30 days while the male protects the territory. If the goose needs to stand up to stretch its paws and eat, it covers the eggs with a layer of its fluff. 
When the chicks hatch, care and upbringing is distributed between the male and the female. Young animals need about 3 weeks to get stronger for the flight, and the chicks feed on the same as adults.
Because of its prevalence in the white-fronted goose, seasonal hunting is permitted in the countries of the former USSR. Also, this bird is eagerly raised under farm conditions, like any other species of the duck family.
