Any Snow Goose should show a pinkish bill, and this bird appears to have a solid gray bill. The bill does look shorter than the other Canadas, particularly in the flight shot. But I wonder if that's just due to the angle of the photo.
Secondly, the whitish feathers seem almost randomly distributed on this bird; the flight photo shows that well. Some of the primaries are dark like a standard issue Canada, but many are white. A pure blue morph Snow Goose would have dark primaries.
Hi, Andy. Thanks for chiming in. When I replied to Charlie last night, I had similar thoughts: "That goose is curious. Looking at the first photo I thought albinistic Canada (?) because black line behind head seems where edge of throat patch might be, but looking at second (flying) photo, its bill seems stubbier than Canada. A hybrid (?) A farm goose (?)." I Cc'd the reply to Brian and Caleb also, so maybe they or someone else with similar expertise will post something here. Stay tuned.
4 comments:
Isn't it a blue morph Snow Goose?
Although, the white wingtips in flight seem very odd.
I would vote for leucistic Canada Goose.
Any Snow Goose should show a pinkish bill, and this bird appears to have a solid gray bill. The bill does look shorter than the other Canadas, particularly in the flight shot. But I wonder if that's just due to the angle of the photo.
Secondly, the whitish feathers seem almost randomly distributed on this bird; the flight photo shows that well. Some of the primaries are dark like a standard issue Canada, but many are white. A pure blue morph Snow Goose would have dark primaries.
Hi, Andy. Thanks for chiming in. When I replied to Charlie last night, I had similar thoughts: "That goose is curious. Looking at the first photo I thought albinistic Canada (?) because black line behind head seems where edge of throat patch might be, but looking at second (flying) photo, its bill seems stubbier than Canada. A hybrid (?) A farm goose (?)." I Cc'd the reply to Brian and Caleb also, so maybe they or someone else with similar expertise will post something here. Stay tuned.
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