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Cackling goose

Branta hutchinsii

Photo by HemaShah
Published on Project Noah
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37.2469, -119.622

Field Notes

Description:

The weather was spring like here today. So the usual photographs were all by the pond with their sophisticated equipment. I of course tried to tap on their experience and expertise.
One of them told me that out of all these 8 geese ,7 were cackling geese. Only the very last one was a Canadian goose.
These were babies ,hardly bigger than a mallard. The white bib on the geese distinguishes them .the cackling from the Candian.

Notes:

picture number two is probably,
B. c. occidentalis

Species ID Suggestions

Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

Canada geese

Branta canadensis

Comments (8)

I had never seen the Brant before either http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/8273219
Definitely Cackling Geese. Note the short neck, white collar and stubby bill.
Amazing Karen!! Thanks so much.Looks like B. h. hutchinsii. You learn something new everyday. i was going to disregard this sighting. Turns out to be a new spotting again. These must be migratory. Never seen them before. Very cute actually.
Emma: if these were mallard size then they were cackling geese Branta hutchinsii, and not not babies. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cackling_Goose/id/ac gives the differences between the species. I'm not sure about the white bib, but a white slash on the upper throat rather than the head marks the Brant. Hope this helps
Lovely picture...
Satyen,just curious,where is the Blacklist document?
Satyen the last one on the right side in this picture of the seventh one does not have a white bib. That one seems to be the canadian.I have an enlarged picture of that one.
Nice shot Emma. They all seem to be Canadian Geese.
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 24, 2012

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