Greater or Lesser White-fronted Goose? Changtang, Ladakh, India (1 Viewer)

[andyb39]

Not my images but sent to me by a birder in Ladakh. This is an underwatched area with huge potential and has turned up a number of rarities recently. This particular bird has quite a large bill and is fairly heavily barred on the belly, but the white on the forehead is limited to the front of the head and there seems to be a yellow eye-ring in most of the shots. It's as if it's Greater (albifrons) structurally but I can't understand the presence of the eye-ring.

Any feedback would be welcome as I have very limited experience of Lesser Whitefront.

 

[Muppit17]

I agree it is a greater. The size, bulk, forehead shape and belly markings all point to this.
I also agree that the white is quite extensive but still not right for LWG. It is not unknown for GWG to have eye-rings and this would appear to be one of these

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

I agree this is no Lesser whitefront but I am not sure this is a Greater. In my impression, there seems to be a very marked size difference to the Barheaded geese.
I don´t think that is the case normally

https://waarneming.nl/fotonew/3/32643763.jpg

additionally the extend of white and the yellow eyering as well as the bill shape and the extensive belly pattern make my wonder if this is a hybrid lesser x greater whitefront, a cross that had already been documented in the wild

Do you have any more photos? qalso with size comparison with the barheaded geese?