Wednesday 1 March 2017

Greater White-fronted Goose x Lesser White-fronted Goose

probable Greater White-fronted Goose x Lesser White-fronted Goose hybrid, Oudeland van Strijen (Zuid-Holland, Netherlands), 22nd February 2015 - copyright Diederik Kok
(photo ID: 3010)


There is quite a lot of variation in both Greater and Lesser White-fronted Geese so proving hybrids between them is quite difficult.  I am not entirely certain that pure Greater White-fronted Goose can be discounted for this individual as there probably isn't any single feature shown by this bird that does not sometimes appear on them.  However the combination of conspicuous yellow eye-ring, limited dark belly markings and slightly short-looking very pink bill make me think it is a good candidate.  There isn't much in the size or structure visible in the photos to clinch it though, so I am a bit cautious about labelling this as a definite hybrid.


probable Greater White-fronted Goose x Lesser White-fronted Goose hybrid (with Greater White-fronted Geese; same bird as in photo ID 3010 above), Oudeland van Strijen (Zuid-Holland, Netherlands), 22nd February 2015 - copyright Diederik Kok
(photo IDs: 3011-3012)



Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Lesser White-fronted }Goose Anser erythropus

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