
Greater white-fronted goose
Anser albifrons · The specklebelly. Brown with black belly bars, orange legs and a white face patch.
- Length
- 25–32 in
- Weight
- 4.3–7.3 lb
- Wingspan
- 53–60 in
- Group
- Goose
Typical adult size.
How to identify a greater white-fronted goose
Adults
Gray-brown goose with a white band at the base of a pink-orange bill, irregular black bars on the belly and bright orange legs. The sexes look alike.
Young birds and sexes
Same as the gander. Young birds lack the white face and the belly bars.
In flight
Brown geese in V's or lines, with a high laughing "kow-yow" call. Belly bars show from below.
Look-alikes
- Canada goose: Canada geese have a black neck and white chin strap.
- Snow goose: Blue-form snow geese have white heads and pink bills.
Greater white-fronted goose gallery
Greater white-fronted goose call
Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · original recording
Greater white-fronted goose limits in six Mid-South states
Mississippi
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 13–29; Dec 4–6; Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 3 | 9 |
MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Mississippi rules
Tennessee
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 28–29; Dec 5, 2026–Feb 14, 2027 | 3 | 3× daily (1× on opening day, 2× on the second day) |
TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Tennessee rules
Arkansas
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Oct 31–Nov 8; Nov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027 | 2 | 6 |
AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Arkansas rules
Louisiana
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 14–Dec 6; Dec 19, 2026–Feb 7, 2027 | 3 | 9 |
LDWF Seasons and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Louisiana rules
Missouri
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 11, 2026–Feb 6, 2027 | 2 | 6 |
MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Missouri rules
Kentucky
| Season | Dates | Daily | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 26, 2026–Feb 15, 2027 | 2 (inside 5 dark geese combined) | 3× daily |
KDFWR 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide · checked Oct 22, 2026 · Kentucky rules
Regular-season limits from each state’s official 2026-27 regulations. Possession limits count birds at home too. Federal rules apply on top of state rules, and some WMAs and refuges set stricter limits. Louisiana and Missouri set duck seasons by zone; the dates shown are for every zone.
When and where on public land
Timing
Arrives in October and November; common in the Arkansas and Louisiana rice country through the season.
Habitat
Rice and soybean fields, refuge impoundments and open water roosts.
More gooses
See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction.




