[Tweeters] Hybrid goose posts on eBird

[Martha Jordan via Tweeters]

    There have been two posts about hybrid geese posted to eBird the last
few days from Clark County.  I looked at both as they were listed as a snow
goose hybrid: one with a cackler and one with a white-front. I asked my
colleague who knows about goose breeding areas and so much more in our
flyway.  His take is that:
      I don’t even think it is a hybrid, just looks like a Canada/cackling
goose without black head feathering – there is nothing in that bill that
suggests white-front. Given the sizing in comparison to the Dusky flock
(the red collar) in the background, I don’t know why they are so convinced
it is a “cackling goose” – I’d suggest it is likely a Lesser Canada from
the Anchorage area that has weird genetics going on.
     As for the white headed goose in the flying flock:  this seems more
likely to be a blue phase snow goose.  Or, another white headed color
anomaly as above.
     Bird ID is a challenge as there is so much to know, and then the
anomalies come along.  Keeps birding interesting.

Martha Jordan
Everett, WA
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