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Mystery Goose (1 Viewer)

ghs

New member
Hello all,

This is my first attempt at communication on Bird Forum, although I have been reading the different forums for a while and I think its an amazing site. I am fairly new to birdwatching and am probably asking for a simple ID. I saw this goose 2 weeks ago at Lackford Lakes. It looks like a Canada at the back but not elswhere and its squatter. Someone I spoke to says it may be a Canada cross. I've only had the camera (Olympus C740) for a few weeks so sorry for the quality of the shots.

Thanks

George
 

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Looks like it's at least partially Dusky Canada ( Branta canadensis occidentalis ) since the breast is dark and there's no clear deliniation between the neck and breast colors.

edit - or what they said above.
 
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Welcome to BF, George, although I see that you are not exactly a new member!
It's certainly a Canada x something but I'm not totally sure about greylag. The underparts seem to have a rather rufous hue. It may have a very mixed ancestry!
 
Lackford is a great site. Have some great memories from there including Night Heron and Caspian Tern, as well as a host of more common species. Looking forward to seeing more of your pics taken there.

Definitely a hybrid goose this, but to throw a spanner in the works, if it is Greylag/Canada which parent does it get the white eye ring from?
 
Welcome

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George

Welcome, I posted my first photos and discussion threads today and I also have an Olympus C740.

At the moment I am doing basic digital photography at night school and feel I am coming on leaps and bounds in terms of understanding some of the things I can do with what is an excellent camera.

The camera needs to work though to learn that menu system - I would also recommend some tripods - both big and small for using the big 10x zoom.

Look forward to seeing more of your pictures. Well done on the goose with mixed parents!

Martin
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Hi all,

I still would favour canada x greylag. The brownish breast and belly colour is common in these hybrids, also the white eye ring which does not occur in the parent species. Many canada x greylag also have a white front like greater white fronted goose, but the white patch being smaller and more irregular in Canada x Greylag.

Barheaded x canada hybrids are much lighter grey-brown coloured and have a white face with a white stripe extending down the sides of the neck. Bill was black in those I have seen and leg colour was orange as in Barheaded goose.

Jörn
 
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