The Emperor Goose

Many ornithologists believe the emperor goose (Chen canagicus) is the most beautiful goose in North America. Detailed descriptions of its plumage can be found in Palmer¹ and a general description in Bellrose.² Emperor geese are rather short and squatty, with yellow-orange feet and pink bills. Their bluish-gray body feathers are banded in black and fringed on the outside edge with white. The beads and necks of adult emperors are white except for a wide, dark-gray band that begins at the throat and extends down the neck to the breast. The plumage of immatures more than four months old is similar to that of adults. Before four months their heads are gray.