SeeHear Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 (edited) Is the markedly smaller of these geese a small Canada Goose or is it a Cackling Goose? I estimate the wingspan to be about 3/4 that of the larger geese in the flock. Northeastern Illinois, September 22, 2018. Bird on left: Bird on top: Bird in middle: Edited September 24, 2018 by SeeHear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egosnell2002 Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Hmm, Cackling from the air, with a photo, never tried that before! The first picture seems to show how tiny it is, and depending on angle I guess, it seems small enough for Cackling to me. The bill looks extra stubby in the other pics too. I'd says so! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 (edited) Is the apparent relative shortness of the neck an indicator? Also, the head on the smaller bird appears wider from this angle. Edited September 25, 2018 by Charlie Spencer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffclarke Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Also, I'm not seeing a white chin strap on the smaller goose. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeHear Posted September 25, 2018 Author Share Posted September 25, 2018 7 hours ago, geoffclarke said: Also, I'm not seeing a white chin strap on the smaller goose. What are the implications of the lack of a white chin strap? Here's another image, with the exposure increased in post processing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffclarke Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 Not sure...just making an observation and hoping someone more experienced can shed some light. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 The lack chin patch probably doesn't mean anything. Some Canadas and Cackling, I believe as well can show a reduced or almost no white chin patch. I don't think it's relevant to the ID here. Most likely a coincidence. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiley Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 (edited) About the ID, I'm generally pretty wary about calling a Cackler in flight. The first caution is that Cackling and Canada do hybridize. Top goose experts Steve Mlodonow and Louis Bevier agree that hybrids do exist, and likely more frequently than birders might think. A few years back, a Cackling Goose was reported by a local expert here in CT. Everything seemed good for Cackling until people began to have different thoughts, with the help of Steve and Louis. That bird was a likely hybird. My main point here is that Cackling Goose ID is anything but simple. Even expert birders are confused by the variation within both species, as well as the presence of hybrids, even in cases where birds are studied and photographed well, as in the CT example. This bird may very well be a Cackling, but I wouldn't place much faith in that ID from a flight shot alone. Edited September 26, 2018 by akiley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 Cackling should show a white cheek patch, even at this angle. Thus, I would place no confidence in an ID of Cackler for this bird, as it could be a hybrid. Cackling is known to hybridize with Canada, Snow, and Ross's, so.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeHear Posted September 29, 2018 Author Share Posted September 29, 2018 Thanks much all! This has been a very informative discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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