Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose

presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Coxford (Norfolk, UK), 9th March 2004 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0028)

A mixed pairing of Barnacle Goose x White-fronted Goose occurred at Raynham Lake (Norfolk, UK) a few years ago and were observed to be successful (per Andrew Bloomfield).  A number of hybrid geese frequented the area after that and at least two of these are presumed to be the offspring of this pairing.

Hybrids between Barnacle Geese and either of the White-fronted Goose species seem to be very dark-bodied - more so than either parent. 

 presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Coxford (Norfolk, UK), 13th March 2003 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0026)

presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid (same bird as photo ID 0028 at top of page), Coxford (Norfolk, UK), 9th March 2004 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0027)

presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Flitcham (Norfolk, UK), 1st  June 2007 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0020)

presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Flitcham (Norfolk, UK), 8th January 2008 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0024-0025)

presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Flitcham (Norfolk, UK), 17th February 2010 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0021-0023)

presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Raynham Lake (Norfolk, UK), 1st April 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0018-0019)

 presumed Greater White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Raynham Lake (Norfolk, UK), 10th February 2012 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0015-0017)

So far as I know there has not been any ongoing hybridisation in this area after the initial event, so I assume that all of the birds shown above (which may only be two or three birds) relate to the original hybrid offspring.  If this is the case then it is especially interesting to note that the most recent observations involve a bird with a much whiter belly than previously, suggesting that its appearance has changed over time.  However this is not proven - it is possible that it is a new bird and it could have arrived from a different source. 



(See also: Lesser White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose) 

Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis