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Re: Cackling Geese?

From:

Clive Harris

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Thu, 30 Sep 2004 04:49:33 -0700

Sherry

The small goose in your pictures looks like a diminutive version of the regular, large Canada Goose, in color and structure.  I am not sure whether this makes it just a runt or one of the smaller versions of the newly defined Canada Goose (eg. "Lesser"), I suspect it is the former though.

Regards

Clive

Sherry <> wrote:
Bob,

I've had some problems and haven't been able to follow MDOsprey, so I'm
not sure what led up to this the two posts below, but if the Centennial
goose you're referring to is the one I photographed on 2/26/04, the
pictures are here:

http://flyaway.smugmug.com/gallery/74843/

Clicking "Original" size (under the photo) will get you the full size
photos. There are two pictures (the third is a composite of the first
two) of the small-race goose and a common CAGO. They were headed across
the parking lot, and stayed ahead of me, so I couldn't get any shots
from the front.

If it's a different goose, please let me know when it was seen.

Sherry


Bob Ringler wrote:

>Matt,
> In the 7th Edition of the AOU Checklist the note under Canada Goose suggested that the name for the small races if split as a separate species would be Tundra Goose. Unfortunately the AOU Checklist Committee did not follow through on this more logical name. Perhaps its choice of Cackling Goose indicates the intention of further splits and creating a new name would not be necessary. There is still the possibility that Richardson's will be split from Cackling. So the point is well taken that we should be looking closely at our tiny geese. Unfortunately I was unable to open your photo file. I would very much like to see the photos of the bird at Centennial.
>
>
>
>
>>From: Matt Hafner
>>Date: 2004/09/29 Wed PM 06:10:18 EDT
>>To: 
>>Subject: [MDOSPREY] Cackling Geese?
>>
>>As the first reports of newly-split Cackling Geese arrive for the state, I'd
>>like to make a suggestion about the naming. Cackling Goose was a poorly
>>chosen name not only for the reason pointed out by Walter Ellison, but also
>>because it refers to previously established subspecies (Branta hutchinsii
>>minima). To the best of our knowledge, only the nominate "Richardson's Goose" has
>>occurred in MD. Unless the bird does not appear to be typical Richardson's
>>Goose, I suggest we continue using the name Richardson's Goose to distinguish
>>records from possibly occurring minima (origin debatable).
>>
>>I have been paying attention to Richardson's Geese for a few years now
>>thanks to Jim "they're going to split that" Stasz. To my eye, all have appeared
>>to be clear Richardson's Geese except the Centennial Lake bird this spring.
>>Just recently, a Cackling Goose appeared in Central NY that is nearly
>>identical to the Centennial Lake bird.
>>
>>Photos seen at: _http://www.fickity.net/cack.html_
>>(http://www.fickity.net/cack.html)
>>
>>The subspecies is being debated on the NYS listserv and I certainly don't
>>claim to have an answer. I left the Centennial bird as unknown subspecies.
>>The bird could possibly be a dark hutchinsii or a pale minima or who knows.
>>
>>So next time you see a Cackling Goose, pay careful attention to the breast
>>color (this is of course after head and bill shape are used in identification
>>as Cackling Goose). If the bird appears darker than normal Canadas, it is
>>worth mentioning in the report.
>>
>>
>>Matt Hafner
>>Bel Air, MD
>>
>>
>>
>
>Bob Ringler
>Eldersburg MD
>
>
>
>



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