Bean Goose (Tundra or Taiga?), Gyeonggido, South Korea, 5/8/21 (1 Viewer)

[sandwich311]

Hi,

I saw this Bean Goose with 2 others recently unusually in the middle of summer. They usually winter in South Korea. I can't tell the difference between Taiga and Tundra. From looking at descriptions and pictures I am leaning towards Tundra but wondered if anyone could help me further?

Thanks, Rob

 

[Butty]

It looks like it's a) tame and b) in a town park. Thus may well not have arrived there by natural means.

 

[sandwich311]

Thanks for your reply. It is at a local lake/reservoir which is a hotspot for wild birds. I regularly go here and it was the first time I had seen them here. There have been reports of other been geese in the province in wetlands and rice fields.
Do you know which bean goose it is?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Living in one of the wintering-area for Bean and WF Geese for some years now, I have seen a few Geese, that were quite/extremly tame and approachable. Damaged feathers and an obvious sick feeling made them not good for pictures (I sometimes tried it anyway, when in an public area with other people close by, as you know, I am fearless when it comes to bad photography). I am assuming, that they were injured birds (shooted?) or suffered from illness.

This might well be the reason for these bird, too

 

[sandwich311]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know which kind of bean goose?

 

[andyb39]

Tundra, I think - rather short-necked, short stubby black bill with some yellow on lower mandible.

 

[sandwich311]

Thanks for the confirmation.