The other consideration is that birds of European (or British) origin (ssp.
albifrons) also have pink bills, so these would also have to be eliminated.
Mullarney's book on Birds of Britain and Europe also notes that some
authorities consider flavirostris (the Greenland ssp.) to be a separate
species. So the plot is even thicker than before!

Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD

on 02/06/2005 10:55 PM, Brendan A. Klick at  wrote:

> The identification of Greater White-fronted Geese as to subspecies to mind is
> very worrisome.  In New York State most of White-fronted's I saw I felt had
> orange bills.  However, I highly doubt any are of the Greenland race.
> Furthermore, I have seen birders in field looking at the same bird and
> disagreeing on bill color (some saying the bill looks pink, while others say
> the bill is orange).
> 
<snip>
> Brendan
>