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Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

Photo by Kyle A
Published on Project Noah
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41.8969, -71.4142

Field Notes

Description:

Large bird. About the size of a goose.

Habitat:

Spotted in a pond in a suburban neighborhood.

Notes:

I think this is an immature Canada Goose. I can't find any images that match it though. There was a Canada Goose only a few feet away from it.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (12)
shebebusynow
As far as I've been able to determine, ducks and geese do not successfully crossbreed, but different varieties of geese will breed with other varieties of geese. Muscovy ducks are closer to geese, so there might be more action there. You might find this site about cross breeds interesting: http://www.gobirding.eu/Photos/HybridGeese.php
Kyle A
Thank you for the ID keys Ashley. As an untrained person in animal I.D. the help is always appreciated.
AshleyT
When it's a hybrid, you put both species names with a "x" in between them. If it's a domestic, you add "domestica" after the species name. Legs are also a good way to tell them apart, geese have really thick legs compared to ducks, but you can't really see the legs here.
Kyle A
Thank you for the input shebebusynow. I'm going to investigate the bill. Thatight be a decent indicator. I am going to considering this a duck or goose hybrid. I've got to do some comparative analysis of photos, especially the bills. Also, how does one give binomial nomenclature to a hybrid? Do hybrids have a genus, or does one just leave it at the genus level and add the generic 'sp'. appellation.
AshleyT
No one said it's a mallard. But domestic ducks are descendants of mallards and are generally referred to as domestic mallards. This looks very similar to ducks I see at parks in towns
shebebusynow
I doubt it's a mallard, but I have seen quite a few wild crosses between Canada geese and domestic geese. Here's the progeny of one such cross, but you can imagine that, like any mutt, any number of genes might surface. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7114449
AshleyT
If you look at the bill of a goose, it is taller and thicker as well as having more of a straight slope. Duck bills aren't as tall and have a dipping slope. At least this makes sense to me, not sure if it does to others haha
Kyle A
Thank you very much Ashley, your expertise is greatly appreciated. What is it about the bill that differentiates them? I will Google your suggestion, but I trust your judgement. :)
AshleyT
The bill tells you this is a duck rather than a goose, and the overall large size is a big hint that it's a domestic. Google "domestic mallard" and you will see tons of pictures that look exactly like your bird here :)
AshleyT
Domestic Duck, https://www.flickr.com/photos/47745688@N05/sets/72157643763756854/
Kyle A
Thank you for the link. Based upon the link you provided it seems to be a hybrid. I'm still not sure. I'll probably change the ID.
Christine Y.
It looks like it could be some kind of hybrid or dark morph of a snow goose. See here for more info: http://www.birds-of-north-america.net/geese.html

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Wildlife of Northeastern USA
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project

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Photographed
PublishedSeptember 29, 2013

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