Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,062 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in December.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Ross's Goose: observations by month (U.S.)
About Ross's Goose
The Ross's goose (Anser rossii) is a North American species of goose.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Ross's Goose by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,990 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Texas | 746 | January | Nov–Feb |
| New Mexico | 235 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Ohio | 212 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Illinois | 184 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 153 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Colorado | 141 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Oregon | 138 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Arizona | 124 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Maryland | 116 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Michigan | 114 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Missouri | 112 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Kansas | 104 | January | Nov–May |
| Nevada | 97 | December | Dec–Apr |
| Virginia | 97 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 95 | December | Dec–Mar |
| North Carolina | 94 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Minnesota | 93 | October | Oct–Nov |
| New York | 85 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Alabama | 79 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 73 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Idaho | 69 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 65 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Utah | 64 | February | Nov–Apr |
| Indiana | 62 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Louisiana | 56 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Oklahoma | 55 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Florida | 54 | February | Dec–Mar |
| New Jersey | 53 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Nebraska | 52 | November | Nov–Apr |
| Georgia | 47 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Washington | 41 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Arkansas | 34 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Iowa | 33 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Mississippi | 33 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Montana | 33 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Kentucky | 31 | January | Nov–Feb |
| West Virginia | 31 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Delaware | 27 | January | Dec–Mar |
| North Dakota | 26 | April | Mar–Apr |
| South Carolina | 22 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Connecticut | 21 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Vermont | 21 | November | Nov–Nov |
| South Dakota | 18 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Maine | 8 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Rhode Island | 8 | December | Dec–Jan |
| New Hampshire | 6 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Wyoming | 5 | November | Nov–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Mallard
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Duck
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ross's Goose?
Nationally, December has the most observations, with the main season from November to March.
Where is Ross's Goose most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, New Mexico.