The species is divided into two subspecies on the basis of size and geography. Size overlap has caused some to question the division. The smaller subspecies, the lesser snow goose ("C. c. caerulescens"), lives from central northern Canada to the Bering Straits area. The lesser snow goose stands tall and weighs . The larger subspecies, the greater snow goose ("C. c. atlanticus"), nests in northeastern Canada. It averages about and , but can weigh up to . The wingspan for both subspecies ranges from .