Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

Greater White-fronted Goose [lateral view of immature]. Photograph Credit: Roseanna M. Denton; Twin Lakes, Pulaski County, Kentucky; 26 January 2008.

Abundance: Very Uncommon during late fall, winter, and early spring; 27 records in 12 Regional counties, 3 in Kentucky and 9 in Tennessee (Map of UCR Distribution); data from the Regional bird-monitoring efforts are too few to determine a trend in the population wintering in the Region (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

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

Regional High Count: 33 (16 March 2013; DeKalb County, Tennessee; Judy C. Fuson photo); CBC/CBB High Count: 10 (17–18/22 December 2011; Putnam County, Tennessee [Cookeville CBC]; Michael J. Hawkins et al.).

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).

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).

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), 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).

20 April 2007 (1—second-year) Cookeville Golf Course, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman photo, Leonardo Chavez; Casteel 2007c).

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

26 January/16 February 2008 (1—immature/1) Twin Lakes/Rt. 635, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo [see above]).

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

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

8 January 2010 (4) Lucas, Barren County, Kentucky (David L. Roemer).

26 October 2010 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton).

17–18 January 2011 (1—immature) Lake Tansi (first date) and Ted Davis Rd. (both dates), Cumberland County, Tennessee (Joseph E. Mast, DJ Stanley, Edmund K. LeGrand photo [latter date]).

19 February 2011 (7—mainly adults) White County, Tennessee (Douglas A. Downs photo), a Great Backyard Bird Count record.

26 February–9 March 2011 (1—probable immature) Vaughn Rd., DeKalb County, Tennessee (Judy C. Fuson photo [2 March 2011]).

17–18/22 December 2011 (10—adults and immatures) Lexus Pond, Putnam County, Tennessee (Michael J. Hawkins, Judy C. Fuson, Peggy Huffstetler, Stephen J. Stedman photo [18 December 2011], Janie C. Finch/Nancy S. Layzer, Ginger K. Ensor), a CBC record [first date].

23–30 January 2012 (15) Student's Home Rd., DeKalb County, Tennessee (Judy C. Fuson photo).

6 February 2012 (3—adults) Catfish Farm Rd., Fentress County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Edmund K. LeGrand).

February–16 March 2013 (up to 33) Vaughn Rd., Dekalb County, Tennessee (Judy C. Fuson photo).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Early Fall: 26 October 2010 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

    Late Spring: 20 April 2007 (Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman et al.); Next latest: 27 March 1999 (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.

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited