Lesser White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose

possible Lesser White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Rowntree Park, York (North Yorkshire, UK), 11th September 2010 - copyright Mark Coates

(photo ID: 2100)

We aren't sure what this hybrid is.  It looks superficially similar to Greylag x Canada Goose hybrids, but isn't quite right.  The plumage is darker - though some domestic goose x Canada Goose hybrids can be similar in this respect.  It's the shortness of the bill and head shape that really seems at odds with Greylag x Canada though - and with domestic goose x Canada.  These features make us wonder if Lesser White-fronted Goose and/or Cackling Goose might be involved.  The neck seems too long for both and the bird, though significantly smaller than Canada Geese, was probably not small enough for both together either.  Lesser White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose seems plausible, though it seems that this hybrid may typically show much more white on the head.

 possible Lesser White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 2100 above), Rowntree Park, York (North Yorkshire, UK), 11th September 2010 - copyright Mark Coates

(photo ID: 2101)

possible Lesser White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (same bird as in photo IDs 2100-2101 above), Rowntree Park, York (North Yorkshire, UK), 14th September 2010 - copyright Mark Coates

(photo ID: 2102)

Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
Canada Goose Branta canadensis

Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose

Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Canada Goose), Center Parcs, Elveden Forest (Suffolk, UK), 28th June 2008 - copyright Katy M ("BlueyBirdy")

(photo ID: 2356)

Barnacle and Canada Geese frequently hybridise where both species occur ferally, and the hybrids are fertile.  They may also occur in the wild in north-west Europe where vagrant Canada/Cackling Geese appear among Barnacle Goose flocks - there have been records of both F1 hybrids and backcrossed hybrids in north-west Scotland, for example.  Backcrossed hybrids can be difficult to determine and on our current knowledge it is not always clear whether browner-than-normal Barnacle Geese are so because they have Canada (or Cackling) Goose genes or for some other reason.  Certainly worn pure Barnacle Geese can appear browner than usual but the extent to which relatively fresh brown plumage is a certain indicator of hybridisation or not is yet to be clearly established.

Separation of Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose hybrids from Barnacle Goose x Cackling Goose hybrids can be very tricky.  Some birds may be obvious on size and/or structure (such as the bird above) but many may be best left undetermined.

Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Abberton Reservoir (Essex, UK), 20th December 2015 - copyright Adrian Kettle

(photo ID: 2414)

Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Barnacle Goose), Sweden, June or July 2002 -
copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1105)

The next bird, a male, is large for a Barnacle Goose and was accompanying a female Barnacle Goose and four offspring which resembled Barnacle Geese.  Possibly it is a backcrossed Barnacle Goose x (Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose) hybrid?

possible Barnacle Goose x (Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose) backcrossed hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 11th August 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo IDs: 1058-1059)

possible Barnacle Goose x (Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose) backcrossed hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 1st July 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1057)

possible Barnacle Goose x (Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose) backcrossed hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 23rd July 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1037)

Here is a hybrid with one of its backcrossed offspring:

probable Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (behind) with offspring backcrossed with Barnacle Goose (front), Sweden, June or July 2002) - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1109)

Here is another shot of one of the backcrossed young - Carl Gunnar tells us that two of the three offspring looked like this while the third resembled a typical Barnacle Goose.

Barnacle Goose x (probable Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose hybrid) backcross, Sweden, June or July 2002) - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1107)

Here is another feral bird from the UK:

Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose, Baffins Pond, Portsmouth (Hampshire, UK), 8th April 2015 - copyright  Eric Eddles

(photo ID: 2166)

Henry has a great series of photos.  To my eyes the bird looks a bit short-billed and short-necked compared with many Barnacled Goose x Canada Goose hybrids, and in some shots also quite square-headed.  So I wonder if one of the smaller forms of Canada Goose (or Cackling Goose) was involved.  The bird appears to be larger than the accompanying Barnacle Geese, so presumably not one of the smallest forms of Cackling Goose.  Henry points out that this bird has a stripe in its throat, a hard-to-see feature that is present in some Cackling Geese (but I'm not sure if it can also appear in Canada Geese?).

Barnacle Goose x Canada (or Cackling?) Goose (with Barnacle Geese), Turku (Finland), 18th October 2008 - copyright  Henry Lehto

(photo IDs: 2516-2522)

Barnacle Goose x Canada (or Cackling?) Goose (same bird as in photo IDs 2516-2522 above), Turku (Finland), 27th September 2008 - copyright  Henry Lehto

(photo IDs: 2523-2524)

Barnacle Goose x Canada (or Cackling?) Goose (with Barnacle Geese; same bird as in photo IDs 2516-2524 above), Turku (Finland), 5th October 2008 - copyright  Henry Lehto

(photo ID: 2525)

Barnacle Goose x Canada (or Cackling?) Goose (with Barnacle Geese; same bird as in photo IDs 2516-2525 above), Turku (Finland), 12th October 2008 - copyright  Henry Lehto

(photo ID: 2526)

The next bird was distant; although not obvious in the photos it was larger than the accompanying Barnacle Geese.

Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Barnacle Goose), Hickling (Norfolk, UK), 10th August 2009 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0192-0194)

(See also: Barnacle Goose x Cackling Goose)


Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
Canada Goose Branta canadensis

Ross's Goose x Canada Goose

 

 Ross's Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Severance, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 19th February 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1526)

Steve points to the tiny head and bill without a hint of a grin patch as screaming Ross's Goose, but notes that the bird was a bit bigger than the Cackling Geese nearby.  If Snow Goose was a parent, he'd expect a larger head and bill.  A Ross's Goose x Cackling Goose hybrid would have been smaller. 

Ross's Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Severance, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 19th February 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1527-1529)

The identification process is similar for the next bird.  Steve comments on this one, "Separating Ross's x Canada from Snow x Cackling is tricky, as both would result in similar sized birds.  This bird is larger than nearby Cacklers but a bit smaller than nearby Lesser Canadas.  The delicate head and proportionately tiny bill point to Ross's Goose parentage.  The size necessitates Canada Goose as other parent."  Steve goes on to compare it to a Snow Goose x Cackling Goose hybrid at the same place and date which had a bulkier head and longer bill and adds that if it were not for size, one might consider Ross's x Cackling for this one, based on head and bill.

Ross's Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Poudre River, Greeley, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 3rd February 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1219)

(See also: Snow Goose x Canada Goose, Snow Goose x Cackling Goose, Ross's Goose x Cackling Goose, Ross's Goose x Barnacle Goose)
 

Ross's Goose Anser rossii or Chen rossii
Canada Goose Branta canadensis

Snow Goose x Canada Goose

 Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Sweden, 10th October 2006 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1102)

At the time the next bird was first discussed its identity was not fully resolved, but I think with what we know now the ID seems pretty solid (though please comment if you disagree).  It lacks a grinning patch but Carl Gunnar informs us that accrording to Randler (Alula 2, 2001) this does not exclude the possibility of Snow Goose heritage; the bill colour is similar to that of Snow Goose but much darker.  It has pale tips to the tail feathers and pale tertial edges that point to Snow Goose and Carl Gunnar notes that the leg colour is similar to that of a Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid.

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Sweden, 10th October 2006 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo IDs: 1096-1101)

The next bird is trickier.  Apparently appeared in four successive years and one local breeder was sure that it was Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose.  Indeed the neck did not seem so long as the Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid above, but the brownish plumage is certainly more reminiscient of a Canada Goose hybrid (or Cackling Goose) rather than a Barnacle Goose hybrid.  It does seem to have a hint of blue-grey in the wing-coverts, which could be attributed to Barnacle Goose heritage, but it's so Canada-coloured that the proposed identification of Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose feels uncomfortable.  It's identity is not certain therefore, but its similarity to other Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrids is striking.  The wing-stretching in the photos below reveal a white leading edge to the wings.

possible Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (or possibly Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid), Lomma, (Sweden), probably autumn 2002 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo IDs: 1088-1092)

The next photos show what is presumably the same bird, the year after the above photos were taken.  It's appearance is very similar, although by now it appeared a little bit whiter.

possible Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (or possibly Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid), Lomma, (Sweden), 19th April 2003 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1069)

possible Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (or possibly Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, with Barnacle Goose), Lomma, (Sweden), 26th April 2003 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1070)

possible Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (or possibly Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, with Barnacle Goose), Lomma, (Sweden), 27th April 2003 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo IDs: 1071-1072)

possible Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (or possibly Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid), Lomma, (Sweden), 28th April 2003 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson

(photo ID: 1068)

Presumably feral birds are responsible for this hybrid when it occurs in Europe but in North America it is a naturally-occurring hybrid involving wild birds.

Steve notes that the following bird dwarfed the nearby Cackling Geese.  The dark plumage suggests blue morph Snow Goose, but apparently pure blue Snow Geese are more unusual than hybrids in this location in winter.

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Frederick, Weld County (Colorado, USA), December 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1118-1121)

Concurring with Carl Gunnar's observation above, Steve notes that the grin patch on this hybrid varies, with the next bird hardly showing it.  He points to the "blocky" head shape indicating Snow Goose parent rather than Ross's Goose.  To give an idea of how regularly this hybrid occurs in some places, this was about the 20th Steve had seen in NE Colorado during the winter.

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, La Salle, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 17th March 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1190-1193)

Steve points out that the very dark brown (almost purplish) body combined with blue Snow Goose like head pattern seems to be a fairly typical pattern for Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrids, probably even when a white morph bird is the Snow Goose parent.  The wing coverts are paler as well, as one sees in blue Snow Goose.  Steve also notes that the next bird lacks pink on the legs and bill, unlike most Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrids, but it has the more rounded head of a Snow Goose (vs. Canada Goose) and thicker bill.  Based on size and companions, the Canada Goose parent is a Lesser Canada Goose (form parvipes).

Snow Goose x Lesser Canada Goose (parvipes) hybrid (with Lesser Canada Geese), Loveland, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), 15th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1202-1203)

The next birds, with their big bulky body and bill, are larger than the accompanying Lesser Canada Geese (form parvipes).  They were two of six such hybrids at the site.

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Lesser Canada Geese), Poudre River Trail, Greeley, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 3rd February 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1217)

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Lesser Canada Geese), Poudre River Trail, Greeley, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 3rd February 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1220)

The next bird is not so typical in its appearance, showing a black neck ring and not being as dark as usual below.  But Steve points to its size (about the same length, but much bulkier, than the surrounding Lesser Canada Geese, form parvipes) and the large head as indicative of the ID.

Snow Goose x Lesser Canada Goose (parvipes) hybrid (with Lesser Canada Geese), Prospect Pond, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), January 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1232)

Another hefty bird with large head and moderately large bill:

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Lesser Canada Geese parvipes and Cackling Geese), Severance, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 19th February 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1522-1525)

Steven draws attention to the next bird's size compared to the Lesser Canada Goose (parvipes) immediately to its left (well, slightly behind) and the behemoth moffitti behind that.

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Lesser Canada Geese parvipes and moffitti), Firestone Gravel Pits, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 22nd December 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1732)

The next one is unusual, as Steve points out:

"This is a peculiar pattern for this cross, looking more like what I'd expect an F2 to look like, but I don't believe this cross is fertile, so we shouldn't see anything beyond F1.  In any case, the rounded big head eliminates some weirdo Canada Goose and the bill shape eliminates an oddly colored Snow Goose"

Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid (with Canada Geese parvipes and moffitti), Aurora Reservoir, ArapahoeCounty (Colorado, USA), 11th December 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1731)

I've a feeling the next bird might be another example of Snow Goose x Canada Goose - but am I right in ruling out domestic Swan Goose x Canada Goose which was the photographer's suggestion?  It does look quite long-necked...

possible Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Stalybridge (Greater Manchester, UK), August 2010 - copyright Steve Graby

(photo ID: 1962)

Next up is a fly-over - over the moon no less!  Probably safest to keep the "possible" tag given the views but it looks right to me.

possible Snow Goose x Canada Goose hybrid, Montgomery (Pennsylvania, USA), on or before 13th March 2015 - copyright Scott Fraser

(photo IDs: 2126-2127)

(See also: Snow Goose x Cackling Goose, Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose, Ross's Goose x Canada Goose) 


Snow Goose Anser caerulescens or Chen caerulescens
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Lesser Canada Goose Branta candensis parvipes