Date:         Wed, 15 Nov 2000 09:08:06 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Sherry Peruzzi <bookworms@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Comments on White-fronted Goose bill color
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My post when I saw the bird Monday was that it had a "peachy-pink" bill.
It was not a pure pink, but nor was it orange, like a mute swan's (as
Bonnie said). It was resting in the water both times I observed it, so I
didn't see the legs to make any comparison with them. But the bill color
was actually peach, pretty much halfway between true orange and true
pink.

I observed the goose for about 10 minutes at 2:30 pm (when the sun was
still reasonably high), from a distance of 15-20 yards with 12X bins.

Sherry


Marshall Iliff wrote:
>
> Bonnie and other goose-chasers,
>
> I noticed in the initial post that the bill of this Greater White-fronted
> Goose was described as "pink".  Most of you are probably aware that two races
> are known from the east.  The more common is apparently the Greenland
> subspecies _flavirostris_ that has an orange bill about the same color as the
> legs. Also possible are westen birds _gambeli_ (subspecies names have been
> variable) which have a distinctly pink bill that is quite different in color
> from the legs. Greenland birds may also be darker about the head and neck,
> have more black on the belly, and have less pale edging above (per Sibley
> 2000).
>
> Every one of the c.15 White-fronted Geese I have seen in MD has been
> distinctly orange-billed, as have all photographs I have seen. I know of only
> one report of an apparent "pink-billed" bird, that of Dave Czaplak on the
> National Geographic Society pond in the mid-1990s. Pink-billed birds should
> be expected to occur and have been proven in other states, but should be
> photographed to confirm their subspecific identity.
>
> Can any Howard countians shed light on the bill colorn or racial identity of
> this bird? Does anyone have comments from elsewhere in MD (i.e. has anyone
> else seen a pink-billed bird in MD?). Kenn Kaufman wirte a cautionary note in
> Birding several years back which uggested that he thought Greenland
> White-fronts were over-reported in the East due to the difficulty of
> distinguishing bill color.  I disagree based-on my MD experience, but fully
> expect a western-type bird eventually.
>
> I will be out looking for the Howard Co. bird tomorrow.
>
> Best,
>
> Marshall Iliff
> miliff@aol.com
> Ocean City, MD
>
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