snow goose

American  

noun

1. a white North American wild goose, previously classified as the species Chen hyperborea but now considered the light color phase of the blue goose, C. caerulescens.

---

snow goose British  

noun

1. a North American goose, Anser hyperboreus (or Chen hyperborea or A. caerulescens ), having a white plumage with black wing tips

---

Etymology

Origin of snow goose

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75

Example Sentences

Those birds include a sandhill crane in Connell, Washington, a Canada goose in Whatcom County and a snow goose in Moses Lake, she said.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2022

She received a lot of attention as the only snow goose in the area and was named Derek, a name which stuck even after it was discovered she was female.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2021

In the snow goose study, Barnas compared geese stress levels between days with a drone overflight and days without one.

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2018

“Birds don’t migrate because they want to,” said hunting guide Jerry Kucharski, who specializes in snow goose hunting with his DelBay Guide Service.

From Washington Times • Feb. 20, 2016

The snow goose dæmon wheeled and flew down toward the roof, beating his great wings inward to help him slow down, and landed with a clatter on the pantiles below the sill.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman