Bill, I would call this a hybrid Snow (Blue) x Cackling (Richardson's) Goose, with the caveat that with hybrids between Chen spp. and Branta spp., one can never be 100% certain of parentage without DNA evidence. The breast color, bill shape and gray tones in the bill and legs would be Richardson's Cackling Goose traits; the rest looks like Snow (or Ross's) trait’s. Check out http://www.pbase.com/quetzal/hybridgoose02012009. The first hybrid goose shown at this website (photographed 2 years ago in Fort Collins) is very similar to your bird. It could even be the same bird, with the small differences attributed to molt.
Nick Komar Fort Collins CO -----Original Message----- From: kickback Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 6:20 PM To: Colorado Birds Cc: bill_ko...@msn.com Subject: [cobirds] Snow goose?? (picture) I saw this goose at the pond by the Doubletree hotel in Colorado Springs this afternoon. I think it is a Snow Goose but the bill around it's mouth and the head profile don't look right. http://avoapples.com/birds/_MG_9298_cr.jpg Comments? Thanks Bill Kosar bill_ko...@msn.com Colorado Springs -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
