ML79124911

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

I initially scoped this bird from a distance, keying in on a paler, slightly smaller white-cheeked goose species. I was immediately bit struck by the seemingly larger than usual size of this bird. It was smaller than the surrounding Canada Geese, but not by the wide margin I'm used to seeing with Cackling Geese and this impression continued throughout by brief observation of the bird. Posture is always an important consideration when assessing white-cheeked geese but after analyzing my many images, along with my field impressions, this bird was no doubt on the larger end of the spectrum for Cackling Goose. Typical short, stubby bill but with a more bulbous appearance at base of lower mandible. Head shape was consistently more sloping, rather than a steep, blocky forehead but this can also be attributed to posture. Like all Cackling-type Geese, this bird had a very long-winged, tapered appearance. The white-cheek was gleaming, non-indented, broad and fully connected underneath the throat with no dark line bisecting the white. A poorly defined white ring separated the black neck sock and its pale breast feathering (not expected in taverneri). The neck was overall thicker and shorter. Wing covert pattern is showing some fairly strong contrast (obvious bold white feather fringes) with blueish/gray feathering. Almost certainly a large hutchinsii but the initial thought of taverneri did cross my mind (overall larger size, head and bill shape, shape of cheek patch) and there is mixing between both taxa.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

Lens

300.0 mm f/4.0

ISO

800

Focal length

420 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1000 sec

Dimensions

3964 pixels x 2643 pixels

Original file size

6.45 MB