There is now concern that overgrazing is seriously degrading much of the traditional Hudson Bay breeding habitat. The western populations of Snow Geese do not seem to have shared in this population explosion, but Ross' Goose has increased greatly in the past 40 years. Ross' Goose nests along the Queen Maud Gulf in Arctic Canada and makes a southwesterly flight diagonally across the continent to the Central Valley of California. They also glean seeds of waste grain from harvested fields, or natural seeds from marshlands. Nests are placed in the open in rather dense colonies, lined with down from the female's breast.
Incubation is by the female, but the male stands guard and helps rear the young.
The average clutch size is 3-4 eggs, but the overpopulation in the Hudson Bay colonies has reduced this by about 1 egg per clutch in recent years. Like all geese, Snow Geese migrate as family groups.