pjblake
There is grandeur in this view of life
Ottawa, ON: Canada Goose subspecies - B. c. maxima?
Since this is my first posting, let me say "hello" and here's looking forward to many more postings to come.
I recently went about reviewing my many photos, searching for species I didn't know I had seen, and adding them to my life list. In so doing, I learned of the many subspecies of Canada Goose and the recent split of the Canada and Cackling Goose into separate species. When I reviewed my goose photos, I came across this one which I can't identify beyond a shadow of a doubt. I'll let the photos do the talking for me.
At first I thought it might be Branta canadensis maxima, or the Giant Canada Goose, because the whitish spot by the beak is an obvious characteristic. However, B. c. maxima have white chests and bellies, and this bird has a darker, almost dusky chest. While most of the bird is submerged, the chest does stick out enough to judge a colour. Also, this goose was swimming with a flock of about 6 other geese, and it did not seem any bigger than the others. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of this bird with any other goose for comparison, and the sighting was about four months ago, so my memory is a little spotty.
My hunch is that it may be a hybrid of B. c. maxima and B. c. interior, the Todd's or "Interior" subspecies. That would explain the dusky chest, since Todd's has a darker grey/brown chest. In any case, at this point I am stumped. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, since identifying subspecies appears to be a full time job.
Since this is my first posting, let me say "hello" and here's looking forward to many more postings to come.
I recently went about reviewing my many photos, searching for species I didn't know I had seen, and adding them to my life list. In so doing, I learned of the many subspecies of Canada Goose and the recent split of the Canada and Cackling Goose into separate species. When I reviewed my goose photos, I came across this one which I can't identify beyond a shadow of a doubt. I'll let the photos do the talking for me.
At first I thought it might be Branta canadensis maxima, or the Giant Canada Goose, because the whitish spot by the beak is an obvious characteristic. However, B. c. maxima have white chests and bellies, and this bird has a darker, almost dusky chest. While most of the bird is submerged, the chest does stick out enough to judge a colour. Also, this goose was swimming with a flock of about 6 other geese, and it did not seem any bigger than the others. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of this bird with any other goose for comparison, and the sighting was about four months ago, so my memory is a little spotty.
My hunch is that it may be a hybrid of B. c. maxima and B. c. interior, the Todd's or "Interior" subspecies. That would explain the dusky chest, since Todd's has a darker grey/brown chest. In any case, at this point I am stumped. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, since identifying subspecies appears to be a full time job.
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