Taiga Bean Goose question (1 Viewer)

[jmorlan]

The lead photo on the Taiga Bean Goose Opus page looks odd to me with its all orange bill. Are we sure it's not a Greylag? Thoughts?

https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Taiga_Bean_Goose

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

The bird preening looks like it's a Bean Goose but the other is a Greylag. It's not really a great picture to use to illustrate the Bean, given that the bill is probably the most important feature for distinguishing Taiga from Tundra.

 

[jmorlan]

Thanks. That's what I suspected.

 

[gerdwichers8]

I don't see a Greylag

 

[Mark Lew1s]

No - me too. It looks like another Bean goose with a lot of orange on the bill.

 

[Nutcracker]

All Beans for me - the bill isn't stout enough for Greylag. The amount of orange is more than average, but can occur.


I actually added that photo to the article myself; the problem with the choice is that (at least when I did so) there were hardly any photos at all of nominate Taiga Bean Goose in the Birdforum galleries; this one was the best there was (previously, the article was illustrated with a pinioned captive bird, yukk). @ Andrew - by all means replace it if there is a better wild origin nominate fabalis Taiga Bean pic now (but not with a Tundra Bean pic, as that's a separate species on Opus!).

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Yes, sorry - should have looked a bit closer. Wrong bill shape and plumage tone for a Greylag.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Agree it is a Taiga been with extreme extension of orange on the bill.

the birds here are with some black markings on the bill, but also with much orange.
https://egmp.aewa.info/sites/default/files/Taiga Been Gose.png
https://www.birdguides-cdn.com/cdn/LegacyBirdwatchArticles/taigabeangoosejaripeltomakilr.jpg