Geese in Indiana (1 Viewer)

Hello - very newbie here. Please forgive my stupid question.

In my hometown (Muncie, Indiana, USA) there is a flock of geese that has been around as long as I can remember. At least 15-20 years. I don't know what they are. They are not cared for, so not domestic as such. But possibly feral domestic geese or a hybrid of something or other, or possibly wild, possibly white fronted geese?

They live next to the river in a moderate size city right near two busy roads.

I'm attempting to attach some cell phone photos. If these are feral domestic geese, or a hybrid, can they "officially" be counted? I feel like not, but I'm brand new to keeping records.

Thanks for any info on either ID or the "rules."

Kim

Feral domestic geese.

foresttwitcher said:

Feral domestic geese.

Click to expand...

Yes, genetically speaking Greylag Geese (Anser anser), but looking different from the wild form because of selective breeding. (It seems like a very common thing for American new/non-birders to ask if these are White-fronted Geese - perhaps because Greylag isn't found as a wild species there? Also field guides tend not to include domestic/feral birds, which I think there is an argument they should...)

A consideration for others is that Swan Goose is also a very commonly kept and domesticated species and that they frequently hybridize with their domestic-type Graylag cousins. This often produces, assuming that they're not white, an intermediate plumage that seems to be dominated by the Graylag pattern, but with a contrastingly dark hind-neck, which is provided by the Swan Goose genes. Additionally, any domestic goose with even a suggestion of a bill knob probably has Swan Goose genes involved in its genome.

Graylag Goose (wild type)

Graylag Goose (domestic type) -- note that there are, undoubtedly, not-quite-correctly-identified birds here

Swan Goose (wild type)

Swan Goose (domestic type) -- see comment for Graylag domestic type

Graylag x Swan Goose (domestic type) -- see comment about other domestic-type entries