Leucistic Canada Goose - Eastern Sweden (1 Viewer)

[Antik]

Came across this peculiar looking goose feeding with Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in Gävle north of Stockholm, Sweden, today. Size and colouring similar to the Canada goose next to it except for the discoloured head and yellowish beak, which makes me wonder if this isn't some form of cross breed instead of leucism. Any comments would be appreciated!

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Antik,
belated: welcome to birdforum!

I agree with you, its a leucistic Canada Goose and no hybrid.
Please note, that the white patch on the head has a normal shape for a pure Canada Goose (thanks Jörn once more!).

I have never seen a pure Canada Goose with a yellowish beak. And even a pure Canada Goose with a slightly paler (but still colourless blackish=very dark) bill is extremly rare. I have seen only a few before.

I just see a slightly paler grey band with a slight fleshy tinge on the bill on my actual device. But the fleshy hue is just guesable and much fainter than the pinkish tongue.
Is this enough to suspect an hybrid, with Greylag the usual suspect? Err, I think no. And I am not sure, this is enhanced by artefacts.

No offence you know. Colurs and shades can regular be judged with much more confidence in the field and when this Goose had some yellow on the bill than it is so.

And I hope as always for more comments. Thanks!

 

[Antik]

Hello Antik,
belated: welcome to birdforum!

I agree with you, its a leucistic Canada Goose and no hybrid.
Please note, that the white patch on the head has a normal shape for a pure Canada Goose (thanks Jörn once more!).

I have never seen a pure Canada Goose with a yellowish beak. And even a pure Canada Goose with a slightly paler (but still colourless blackish=very dark) bill is extremly rare. I have seen only a few before.

I just see a slightly paler grey band with a slight fleshy tinge on the bill on my actual device. But the fleshy hue is just guesable and much fainter than the pinkish tongue.
Is this enough to suspect an hybrid, with Greylag the usual suspect? Err, I think no. And I am not sure, this is enhanced by artefacts.

No offence you know. Colurs and shades can regular be judged with much more confidence in the field and when this Goose had some yellow on the bill than it is so.

And I hope as always for more comments. Thanks!

Dear Alexander,

Thank you for the considerate reply. The impression of yellowish tinge in the beak only stroke me from the photo rather than the field. I do have a couple of other shots too where the colour shows even less. A more experienced observer next to me was also inclined to call it a leucistic bird so I am happy to stick to that.

Best,
Antti

 

[nartreb]

I can't discern any color in the bill other than black. It's possible that the camera is hiding some difference from the normal-for-Canada shade of black, but I don't see anything close to "yellowish" here.

It's possible for hybrids (e.g. white-fronted x canada) to have very dark bills, but it's rare.

I place most reliance on the point that the cheek-patch has a normal shape for a Canada. In hybrids this is usually broader, touching the eye.
So my guess is that it's simply a leucistic Canada.

Do you have any other photos? The bird's posture makes it look a little droop-bellied. If it still looks droop-bellied when in the same posture as its neighbor, then I'd have to consider that as a possible sign of domestic parentage.

 

[Antik]

Dear narteb,

Adding the remaining 2 pics. As mentioned above, yellow impression I got is likely just artefact from the inside of the open mouth. Thank you for your contribution!

Best,
Antti