Emperor Goose

The Emperor Goose, known to some as the beach goose or the painted goose, is a member of the Anatidae family, which encompasses ducks, geese, and swans. This species exhibits a stout blue-gray body adorned with black and white spots, creating a scaled appearance. Its head and nape are white with a hint of amber-yellow, distinct from the snow goose, which has a white front neck. A black chin and throat, a white tail, a pink bill with a white tip, and yellow-orange legs and feet further characterize this bird. Adults often exhibit a reddish-brown head in summer due to iron oxide in tidal pools where they feed.

Identification Tips

To identify the Emperor Goose, look for its unique scaled body pattern, white head with amber-yellow tinges, and black throat. The pink bill with a white tip and yellow-orange legs are also key features. Juveniles are mostly gray with a dark head and neck, transitioning to a white head and upper neck by their first winter.

Habitat

During summer, the Emperor Goose inhabits remote coastal areas near the Bering Sea in arctic and sub-arctic Alaska and the Russian Far East. In winter, it prefers ice-free mudflats and coasts, primarily in the Aleutian Islands and occasionally in British Columbia.

Distribution

The Emperor Goose breeds in Alaska and the Russian Far East and migrates south to winter along the Aleutian Islands and occasionally reaches British Columbia and the contiguous United States.

Behaviour

This migratory species travels north to breed and south to winter, covering a few hundred miles. It is monogamous, with females having a single mate for life. The Emperor Goose is less social than other geese, often flying low, sometimes just above the ground.

Song & Calls

The Emperor Goose's call is a nasal "kla-ha, kla-ha, kla-ha," less frequent than other geese such as the white-fronted goose.

Breeding

Breeding begins in late May to early June in Alaska and late June in Russia. Nests are built on tundra close to the coast, often in marshes, and lined with vegetation and feathers. Females lay 4-6 eggs, which are incubated for about 24 days. Goslings exhibit precociality, leaving the nest the day they hatch.

Diet and Feeding

The Emperor Goose's summer diet includes vegetation like shoots, roots, and berries, while in winter, it primarily consumes bivalve molluscs and algae. It feeds at the water's edge, earning the name "Beach Goose," and has a strong-flavored flesh due to its animal-rich diet.

Conservation status

The Emperor Goose is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN but is considered Vulnerable by NatureServe. Its population is declining due to pollution, hunting, and climate change, with conservation efforts underway to address these threats.