MD Osprey:

There have been quite a few reports of Cackling Geese this winter. I 
just wanted to remind everyone about the issue of Cackling Goose 
subspecies. (There were some messages on MD Osprey about a year ago 
that dealt with this.)

In 2004, when the AOU split Canada Geese into two separate species, 
Canada and Cackling, they noted that future splits were likely. If 
and when they do further split Cackling Goose (which is likely), 
everyone will be most interested in which taxa were seen and reported earlier.

MD/DC reports of Cackling Goose are presumed to be "Richardson's" 
Cackling Goose (B. h. hutchinsii); however, the other three western 
subspecies should be considered and eliminated, if possible. 
Richardson's is annual in MD/DC and is not reviewable by the MD/DC 
Records Committee; however, any other species of Cackling Goose would 
be reviewable. Unfortunately, the next most likely Cackling Goose 
subspecies for our region would probably be Taverner's Cackling Goose 
(B. h. taverneri), which probably represents the most difficult ID 
challenge of the complex in separating it from the very similar 
Lesser Canada Goose (B.c. paravipes). The other two subspecies of 
Cackling Goose, which are probably easier to identify, but less 
likely, are the tiny "minima" and "leucopareia" (the Aleutian 
Cackling Goose). Both of the these latter two subspecies do winter in 
the in the western Continental US.

It's probably a good idea to take photos of Cackling Geese, whenever possible.

FYI, here are some relevant links that I put into a message last year ...

         http://www.irbc.ie/notes/cackling/cackling.php

         http://www.sibleyguides.com/2007/07/identification-of-cackling-and-canada-goose/

         http://stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/cackling-geese-subspecies-in-east.html

         http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/2008/11/lesser-canada-goose-in-northeastern-us.html

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

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

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

         http://www.iowabirds.org/ID/geese.asp

         http://www.texasbirds.org/tbrc/Canadagooset.html

         http://azfo.org/gallery/challenges/WhiteCheekedGeese.html

         http://stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/cackling-goose-from-every-angle.html

Phil


===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]

MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
===================================================

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