SNOW GEESE COLOR CHANGING. |
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SNOW GEESE COLOR CHANGING. |
..Piggy.. |
Sep 13 2005, 10:49 PM
Post
#1
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Unregistered |
HELLO THERE MS. PIERCE!!!
During which time period does the snow geese color change? Is there a specific time period in which it changes or does it change on a regular basis? |
Leslie_Pierce |
Sep 23 2005, 07:17 PM
Post
#2
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TREC Teacher Group: TREC Team Posts: 172 Joined: 27-April 05 Member No.: 7 |
HI PIGGY!
The snow geese are gray when they are young goslings and they change to their adult colors during the winter after they are born. So, when they come back to the North Slope the next summer they are in their adult colors. The adults come in two color phases and they remain in one phase their entire life. The color phases are controlled genetically, so they are "born" with that color phase and it will not change. The two phases are white and blue. White phase snow geese actually have some black flight feathers on the tops of their wings. They look pretty cool in flight! The blue phase snow geese have grayish-blue bodies, white heads, and black flight feathers on top of their wings also. The goslings of each phase are totally gray, however, the blue phase goslings are darker gray than the white phase goslings. Why do you think the goslings are darker than their parents? Thanks for the question, Ms Pierce |
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