snow goose

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

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of snow goose¹

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75

Example Sentences

A flock of snow geese passed overhead, their silver wings gleaming against a blue sky.

From Los Angeles Times

She is at work on a second memoir featuring migratory trumpeter swans that winter in Skagit with squawking snow geese and dabbling ducks.

From Seattle Times

From owls on the hunt to fields full of swans and snow geese winter is the time to go watch birds in Skagit County.

From Seattle Times

The agency’s employees have retrieved more than 700 dead birds of several species, but primarily young snow geese, from the area.

From Seattle Times

Denahy hopes tarantulas give La Junta the same economic boost that snow geese, sandhill cranes, mountain plovers, rutting elk and even watermelons have given other communities.

From Los Angeles Times