Cackling Goose (Taverner's) - Nick Bonomo
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

540 Wyatt Road, Middletown, Rhode Island, US (41.522, -71.264)
Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 41.5221183, -71.2641229
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

In this flock were a minimum of three Cackling Geese. Two birds were attached at the hip and traveling together. In a separate part of the flock was this lone Cackler. It was difficult to follow in the flock, easily lost for brief periods, due to its somewhat large size for a CACG and muted upperpart pattern. A closer look revealed a rounded crown with forehead sloping gently into a thick-based bill. This general head/bill shape held up throughout the observation and was not posture-dependent. Its cheek patch lacked the typical hutchinsii-like kink. This combination of features is classic for Taverner’s Goose (taverneri) and helps eliminate the expected Richardson’s form (hutchinsii). Possibly the first record of this taxon in RI? Being a pale-breasted bird, this may indicate that its origin is the Taverner's population from northern Alaska, based on current knowledge.

Technical information

Model
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens
EF400mm f/5.6L USM
ISO
250
Focal length
400 mm
Flash
Flash did not fire, auto
f-stop
f/5.6
Shutter speed
1/1250 sec
Dimensions
5472 pixels x 3648 pixels
Original file size
701.74 KB