Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

Abundance: Very Uncommon (18 records in 11 counties, 3 in Kentucky and 8 in Tennessee).

Status: Winter Resident; photographs (see links below).

Regional High Count: 24 (15 November 2003; Clay County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman et al.; Casteel 2004a).

Information on Records: 

10 December 1989-7 February 1990 (5--3 adults and 2 immatures) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr., Diane Elmore, Steve Kickert, Richard Hines; Stamm 1990b).

28 November-16 December 1998 (1--immature) Boring Pond, Putnam County, Tennessee (Barbara H. Stedman et al.; Fekel 1999a; Welsh 1999a; Stedman 1999b), CBC record [count week].

27 March 1999 (1) Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman et al.; Fekel 1999c), possibly a continuation of the preceding record.

31 January/10 February 2000 (2/2) Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland/Twin Lakes, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton/Roseanna M. Denton; Busroe 2000b).

10 December 2000 (1) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpubl. data).

27 December 2000 (2) Bledsoe County, Tennessee (Bonnie Johnson, Judy Newsome; Knight 2001c).

28 December 2002 (1) Harvest Farm Lake, Warren County, Tennessee (C. Douglas Malone, Crystal Malone, Ruth Ann Henry, Max Medley; Casteel 2003b [uses incorrect date, later corrected {Casteel 2004b}], Hoff 2003a), CBC record.

15/17 November 2003 (24/7) Celina Wastewater Treatment Plant, Celina, Clay County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman et al.; Casteel 2004a/Terry M. Campbell unpubl. data).

30 November 2003 (1) Southeastern Tennessee State Correctional Facility, Bledsoe County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Winston A. Walden; Knight 2004a).

23 February 2004 (2) Rt. 1318, Barren County, Kentucky (Stephen J. Stedman photo, Winston A. Walden; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2004b), photo (23 February 2004, Stephen J. Stedman).

6 November/12 December 2004 (1/1) Conley Bottom, Lake Cumberland, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2005a, Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2005b).

1 November 2006 (8) Stone Farm, Clay County, Tennessee (Terry M. Campbell unpubl. data), a larger number may have been present a day or more earlier.

18 February 2007 (1--adult) Obey River Recreation Area, Dale Hollow Lake, Pickett County, Tennessee (Robbie C. Hassler unpubl. data).

20 April 2007 (1--second-year) Cookeville Golf Course, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman photo, Leonardo Chavez  unpubl. data).

20 December 2007 (1--immature) Boiling Pond, White County, Tennessee (Edmund K. LeGrand unpubl. data), a CBC record.

26 January/16 February 2008 (1--immature/1) Twin Lakes/Rt. 635, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo and unpubl. data).

19 January 2009 (2--adults) Student's Home Rd., DeKalb County, Tennessee (Judy C. Fuson photo, CDW unpubl. data).

7 February 2009 (1--adult) Catfish Farm Rd., Fentress County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Edmund K. LeGrand unpubl. data).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Early Fall: 1 November 2006 (8; Clay County, Tennessee; Terry M. Campbell).

    Late Spring: 27 March 1999 (1; Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman et al.; Fekel 1999c).

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Habitat: Harvested grain fields; short-grass fields; and pastures.

Remarks: White-fronts often associate with flocks of Canada Geese, especially if only one or two of the former are present.

Counties with Observations (boldfaced):

To see a map (Figure 1) displaying the data in the table above, click on the boldfaced word in this sentence.

Literature Cited