[2] The greater white-fronted goose is migratory, breeding in northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia, and winters farther south in North America, Europe and Asia.

[1] Even more distinctive are the salt-and-pepper markings on the breast of adult birds, which is why the goose is colloquially called the "specklebelly" in North America.

[8] The following are the differences which apply to first-winter plumage:[8][9] The belly-barring on adult birds is on average more extensive on flavirostris than on albifrons, but the individual variation in both forms renders this of limited use as an identification feature.

The nominate subspecies, the European white-fronted goose (A. a. albifrons) breeds in the far north of Russia and winters further south and west in Europe and Asia.

[13] Of particular interest is its unusually long period of parental care and association, which may last several years and can include grandparenting, possibly unique among the Anseriformes.

[7] The tule goose is somewhat rare and has been since the latter half of the 19th century,[14] presumably it was affected by destruction of its wintering habitat due to human settlement.

In the Arctic, the window of opportunity for nesting, incubating eggs, and raising a brood to flight state is open briefly, for about three months.

This means that a delayed snowmelt or late spring storm can significantly reduce the birds' reproductive success.

Birds from interior Alaska start migrating earlier during autumn and fly farther south to winter.

A technique using stable isotope analysis from a white-fronted goose has shown promise in providing a way to determine the migratory route birds take from their wintering to breeding grounds.