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Canadian Geese types (Ottawa Canada) (1 Viewer)

Catherine3678

Well-known member
I know most of the Geese flying by are the big Canadian Geese ... at this spot there's supposedly several "types" of them that fly through. As some of these in the photo appear to have shorter necks is there any chance that these are of the other types? Thanks.
 

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I know most of the Geese flying by are the big Canadian Geese ... at this spot there's supposedly several "types" of them that fly through. As some of these in the photo appear to have shorter necks is there any chance that these are of the other types? Thanks.

Hi Catherine,

Except for the Mallard Duck (#4 from the left) all of your geese are Cackling. The shorter necks and short bills, relative to Canada Geese, are the clues. And here's another diagnostic short cut: if the goose has to bend its neck into an "S" to graze from the meadow then its a "Canada". If it is a straight shot down to the forage, its a "Cackling".

Robert / Seattle
 
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I know most of the Geese flying by are the big Canadian Geese ... at this spot there's supposedly several "types" of them that fly through. As some of these in the photo appear to have shorter necks is there any chance that these are of the other types? Thanks.

I am no expert but these geese do no look like Cackling geese the bill is to long and the size of the geese compared to the mallard shows your geese are to large for cacking As far as the short neck I belive that goose is just more relaxed I have picture of lesser canadas that the neck looks as short as a cackler here are a couple of shot to show what I mean

Cackling and mallard also group of cackling to show the very short beak


Al Kat
 

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I am no expert but these geese do no look like Cackling geese the bill is to long and the size of the geese compared to the mallard shows your geese are to large for cacking As far as the short neck I belive that goose is just more relaxed I have picture of lesser canadas that the neck looks as short as a cackler here are a couple of shot to show what I mean

Cackling and mallard also group of cackling to show the very short beak

Al Kat


Richardson's, then? (Though still leaning to (large) Cackling).
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Edit: I take that back. I'm now thinking "Richardson's" ssp. of Canada Goose.
 
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I'd say these are Canada Geese. The one smaller looking one may be a smaller individual but these geese are not proportioned right for cacklers for the reasons Al mentioned.
 
I am no expert but these geese do no look like Cackling geese the bill is to long and the size of the geese compared to the mallard shows your geese are to large for cacking As far as the short neck I belive that goose is just more relaxed I have picture of lesser canadas that the neck looks as short as a cackler here are a couple of shot to show what I mean

Cackling and mallard also group of cackling to show the very short beak


Al Kat

Thank you those are nice comparison photos ... no, the ones in my photo aren't as "cute" as the Cacklings appear to be and they certainly weren't the size of the Mallard! But neither were they as large as the majority of Canadian Geese that were present however, they come from over. Some may just be better fed and all that.

Thank you everybody for the ideas.
 
Hi Catherine,

Except for the Mallard Duck (#4 from the left) all of your geese are Cackling. The shorter necks and short bills, relative to Canada Geese, are the clues. And here's another diagnostic short cut: if the goose has to bend its neck into an "S" to graze from the meadow then its a "Canada". If it is a straight shot down to the forage, its a "Cackling".

Robert / Seattle

That's a good tip. So far though everytime I've seen what I was hoping might be a Cackling, they are either far out on the river or sleeping ... "one day".
 
Thank you those are nice comparison photos ... no, the ones in my photo aren't as "cute" as the Cacklings appear to be and they certainly weren't the size of the Mallard! But neither were they as large as the majority of Canadian Geese that were present however, they come from over. Some may just be better fed and all that.

Thank you everybody for the ideas.
That and during migration, migrant northern Canadas, mainly atlantic pass through the range of the more resident birds, most of which are giant as these are nonmigratory and are often the among the ones that were released into certain areas decades ago. When you're used to the larger residents, the migrants can really through you off.
 
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