Hi Chris, et al.

The AOU "white-cheeked" goose taxonomy is sort of a mess (IMHO) and 
is still in a state of flux. Here's the not so simple answer to your 
perfectly valid question ...

Cackling Goose is not reviewable in Maryland ... IF it's the nominate 
Richardson's subspecies (B. h. hutchinsii). However, any other 
subspecies of Cackling Goose is notable and reviewable. This would 
include B. h. taverneri and B. h. minima. Unfortunately, taverneri is 
tough to separate from the "Lesser Canada Goose" subspecies (B. c. 
parvipes). ... sheesh!

Since the AOU anticipates further splits of the "white-cheeked goose" 
complex (which includes both Canada and Cackling Goose) documentation 
of other forms of Cackling Goose in our region would be especially important.

Here are some web references ...

         http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html

         http://www.utahbirds.org/RecCom/NewGoose.htm

         http://idahobirds.net/identification/cackling.html

Bottom line ... Richardson's Cackling Goose - not reviewable ... any 
other subspecies/form of Cackling Goose - yes.

Hope this helps, somewhat ... but it probably doesn't help all that much ....

Phil


At 15:07 03/09/2008, Chris Starling wrote:
>However, the bonus bird of the morning
>was a Cackling goose found among the hundreds of Canada Geese which were
>pesent most of the morning. The bird left, unfortunately, to feed in 
>the nearby
>fields (presumably)... Is this a reviewable bird?

===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
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MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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