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Pilgrim geese are one of the oldest breeds of domestic geese actually developed in America. This breed is considered sex-linked because you can distinguish the sexes of the hatchlings shortly after hatch by the difference in down coloring. Males will have yellow or white down, while the females will have a grey or dark down coloring. As these birds mature the colors change to pure white plumage in the ganders with patches of grey, (usually over the tail, but its covered by white wings most of the time). While the females develop brown or grey feathers similar to those found on Toulouse geese. Females also often have bits of white around the base of the bill and as the goose matures the white will become more prevalent and eventually develop around the eyes into what is called "spectacles".
There are two different theories as to how the breed originated, one claiming that Oscar Grow, world famous waterfowl hobbyist and raiser, developed the breed in his own flocks. Another theory, by Mr. Dave Holderread, is that flocks of already sex-linked birds existed and the Pilgrim sort of sprang out of those flocks. (For more information on the theories please go to a web search engine and type in Theories about Pilgrim Geese.) You should be able to find several helpful sites out there on the net.
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