Hello Kaya: Your goose is definitely not a Canada Goose. It is difficult to judge since we don't see the front of the bird, but I suspect that this is either a Pink-footed Goose or a Greater White-fronted Goose. Where was this bird photographed? Is it possibly an escape from a wildfowl collection?
David, I was told a year ago that the geese in our local park are Canada Geese.
You are right this goose isn't a Canada Goose. I checked a Pink-footed Goose and a Greater White-fronted Goose on Google. I think that it's a Pink-footed Goose. I photographed this bird in our park. There are a few of them there. I begin to think that none of these geese escaped from a wildfowl refuge.
My guess would be a blue goose or a gray goose, which are phases of the snow goose, called by some the white or the light goose. Sort of confusing, hah?
In regard to Mr. Gascoigne's remark about my comment, I did not say it was a snow goose. I said my guess was a blue goose or a gray goose, which is a phase of the snow goose. Call it a subspecies, if you prefer, but snows and blues are members of the same family of geese. Some come out looking one way, others looking another way .... check it out rather than jumping to conclusions .... by the way, the pink-footed goose is a European species .... I had never heard of that type and did look it up ....
The phrase Blue Goose has not been in currency for years. At one time Blue Goose was considered a separate species, until researchers discovered both blue morph and white morph birds in the same nests on the James Bay lowlands. As for the expression Grey Goose, I am not familiar with that designation, nor is it mentioned in any of the reference books that I have. Perhaps it is a colloquialism. As for Pink-footed Goose being a European species, this is certainly true. However, rarely it appears in North America. One was present for several days in the Ottawa, ON area last year. But the more important point is that a myriad of waterfowl species are kept in private collections by people with large estates and extensive ponds, and they sometimes escape. Barnacle Geese and Bar-headed Geese, for example, do this with some regularity.
Congratulations, Mr. Gascoigne .... you seem to be catching on .... blue geese, gray geese and snow geese all can emerge from the same nest -- they are varying "phases" from the same batch of eggs. As for the term "blue goose," you can go anywhere there are hunters at least between Montana and Michigan and a few states southward and the term will both be recognized and be used. Beyond that region, I have no knowledge. I am guessing you spend more time with your nose in books than you do with your feet in the field. Incidentally, "grey" is the British spelling of the word; "gray" is the usual way of spelling it in the United States.
Sorry, for the distraction/disruption, Kaya .... I will go back in the closet now ....
Last comment - you should spend as much time as I do in the field, after an entire lifetime of research, study, fieldwork............and grey is not merely a British spelling of gray, it is used in the entire rest of the English-speaking world, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Ireland, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Guyana, the Falkland Islands etc. etc. If you prefer the vernacular of hunters in a few states that is entirely your choice, blue goose and grey goose are still not valid, scientifically accepted species. The accepted authority in your country is the American Ornithologists Union (AOU) a universally accepted, highly respected body and they accept no species called Blue Goose or Gray Goose - or even Grey Goose for that matter.
The shape of the wings, never identical in photos, shows the joy of living, even dancing.
ReplyDeleteA great dancer. Hooray for him and you for beautiful pictures. Regards.
ReplyDeleteFantastic shots!
ReplyDeleteHello Kaya: Your goose is definitely not a Canada Goose. It is difficult to judge since we don't see the front of the bird, but I suspect that this is either a Pink-footed Goose or a Greater White-fronted Goose. Where was this bird photographed? Is it possibly an escape from a wildfowl collection?
ReplyDeleteDavid, I was told a year ago that the geese in our local park are Canada Geese.
ReplyDeleteYou are right this goose isn't a Canada Goose.
I checked a Pink-footed Goose and a Greater White-fronted Goose on Google. I think that it's a Pink-footed Goose.
I photographed this bird in our park. There are a few of them there. I begin to think that none of these geese escaped from a wildfowl refuge.
Thank you for helping me, David.
Great photographic series, Kaya.
ReplyDeleteMy guess would be a blue goose or a gray goose, which are phases of the snow goose, called by some the white or the light goose. Sort of confusing, hah?
Muy bello el modo en que lo has captado, congelando su movimiento
ReplyDeletePreciosa la vista de ese ave en vuelo en una genial foto.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Regarding Fram's comment above, these are 100%, categorically NOT Snow Geese.
ReplyDeleteHe seems to be a good dancer on the clod floor, but your pictures are better than his dance showing good details :))
ReplyDeleteHugs.
In regard to Mr. Gascoigne's remark about my comment, I did not say it was a snow goose. I said my guess was a blue goose or a gray goose, which is a phase of the snow goose. Call it a subspecies, if you prefer, but snows and blues are members of the same family of geese. Some come out looking one way, others looking another way .... check it out rather than jumping to conclusions .... by the way, the pink-footed goose is a European species .... I had never heard of that type and did look it up ....
ReplyDeleteThe phrase Blue Goose has not been in currency for years. At one time Blue Goose was considered a separate species, until researchers discovered both blue morph and white morph birds in the same nests on the James Bay lowlands. As for the expression Grey Goose, I am not familiar with that designation, nor is it mentioned in any of the reference books that I have. Perhaps it is a colloquialism. As for Pink-footed Goose being a European species, this is certainly true. However, rarely it appears in North America. One was present for several days in the Ottawa, ON area last year. But the more important point is that a myriad of waterfowl species are kept in private collections by people with large estates and extensive ponds, and they sometimes escape. Barnacle Geese and Bar-headed Geese, for example, do this with some regularity.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Mr. Gascoigne .... you seem to be catching on .... blue geese, gray geese and snow geese all can emerge from the same nest -- they are varying "phases" from the same batch of eggs. As for the term "blue goose," you can go anywhere there are hunters at least between Montana and Michigan and a few states southward and the term will both be recognized and be used. Beyond that region, I have no knowledge. I am guessing you spend more time with your nose in books than you do with your feet in the field. Incidentally, "grey" is the British spelling of the word; "gray" is the usual way of spelling it in the United States.
ReplyDeleteSorry, for the distraction/disruption, Kaya .... I will go back in the closet now ....
Preciosa serie de instantáneas en las que, en efecto, el ganso pareciera que está interpretando una compleja danza.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo,
Last comment - you should spend as much time as I do in the field, after an entire lifetime of research, study, fieldwork............and grey is not merely a British spelling of gray, it is used in the entire rest of the English-speaking world, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Ireland, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Guyana, the Falkland Islands etc. etc. If you prefer the vernacular of hunters in a few states that is entirely your choice, blue goose and grey goose are still not valid, scientifically accepted species. The accepted authority in your country is the American Ornithologists Union (AOU) a universally accepted, highly respected body and they accept no species called Blue Goose or Gray Goose - or even Grey Goose for that matter.
ReplyDeleteMuy acertado dejar el fondo blanco para resaltar la belleza del plumaje de estas aves.
ReplyDeleteSaludos.