On February 7 I reported two unusual Canada geese seen at Blackwater,  
stating that they were perhaps four inches shorter than the nearby regular  Canadas, 
their chests appeared browner rather than pale grey, the bills were  
(slightly) shorter (and stubbier) and the bottom of the black hood appeared  straight, 
rather than angled down to the rear.  
 
It never occurred to me that they were anything but Canada Geese, but --  and 
I hesitate to say this -- a subspecies or race of the Canada.  I asked  for 
comments and sent digitals to two birders.  Bob Ringler e-mailed back  that 
they might be hybrids.  
 
They do not look like Lesser Canadas, because the breast is clearly brown  
and not pale grey as shown in Sibley.  The Aleutian Canada race has a  brownish 
breast, and is about the right size, but also has a white neck-ring  that does 
not show on these birds.  It would also be highly unlikely to be  at 
Blackwater, unless escaped from a collection.
 
I also said film would be back in a week (it took much longer) and  I now 
have in hand scanned slides that illustrate the characteristics  described above. 
One photo shows the unusual Canada standing right in front  of the regular 
Canada, providing as useful comparison of characteristics.  
 
Again, I offer to send scans of two slides to any one else of us weird  types 
who can "get into" subspecies identification.
 
Bob Mumford
Darnestown