Date:         Sat, 3 Mar 2001 09:07:46 EST
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Jim Stasz <Jlstasz@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Canadas
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Hi Folks!

There are several subspecies and sizes of Canada Geese that occur in
Maryland.  The largest are the resident geese. The resident geese were
created by hybridizing one of the large western non-migratory subspecies =with
one of the medium sized migratory subspecies.  At this time of year many
gathering areas for geese will have groups of the larger resident geese a=nd
the medium-sized migratory geese.  In this comparison, the migratory gees=e
appear to be "small".  Small subspecies of Canada Geese also occur in
Maryland.  For every 1000 or so migratory medium-sized Canada it a small
subspecies.  These birds are typically only slightly smaller than a Snow
Goose, but some may be as small as a very large Mallard!  In a flock of t=he
medium-sized migratory Canadas, the small forms are small.

There is variation in the white cheek and chinstrap and the white between= the
bottom of the bib and the belly.  In some the white is a patch on each ch=eek;
in others there is a single white band continuous from one cheek and unde=r
the chin to the other cheek.  A white band between the bottom of the bib =and
the top of the belly is illustrated in many guides.  This feature is not
consistent within a subspecies and even when present is not evident if th=e
bird is in the "wrong" posture.  The best posture for seeing this feature= is
when the birds are slightly alarmed and are standing with the neck fully
extended [when walking and feeding the white usually vanishes].

At least two forms of small Canada Geese occur in Maryland.  The most com=mon
[2 for every 1000 or so medium-sized migratory geese] is "Richardson's"
[Branta canadensis hutchinisii].  They are usually found in a flock not
because they are smaller, but because they are much grayer backed.  Resid=ent
and medium-sized migratory Canadas are brown backed.  When you find one, =look
also at the bill proportions:  the bill is short when compared to the hei=ght
of the bill at the base.  Maybe not quite the shape of a Ross's Goose bil=l,
but closer to that than a typical Canada Goose.  Richardson's are usually
found as singles or pairs within flocks of migratory Canadas.  Last weeke=md
Matt Hafner, Kevin Fehskens and I found 6 in a flock of 330 migratory Can=adas
along Rt. 309 near Starr in Queen Anne's County.  The largest number I ha=ve
ever seen in a single location was 26 among a few thousand Canadas on the
large pond at the Easton Landfill.  There are records of Richardson's Can=ada
from every county except Garrett and Allegany.

A rarer small form has been found only among Snow Goose flocks on the Eas=tern
Shore.  These birds are very small and unlike Richardson's have brown bac=ks.
They might be Branta canadensis minima.  I have seen a total of 4: 2 in
Worcester and 2 in Queen Anne's.  There are a few additional reports from
Dorchester which probably refer to this form. In every instance they were
with Snow Geese.

When we update the Yellow Book we will update Appendix 1.  Please report =all
sighings of
small Canada Geese.

Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com

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