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Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form
Species: Cackling Goose
Reporter: Cliff Weisse, 4125 Beaver Springs Rd., Island Park, ID 83429, 208-558-7789, cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
Other Observers: None
Date of Observation: December 18, 2008
Date Report Prepared: January 4, 2009
Locality of Observation: On the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Island Park, Last Chance section, about 1/2 mile upstream fro Harriman State Park boundry.
Habitat: River
Conditions: Windy and overcast, distance about 100 yards
Did you take notes… No
Did you consult a field guide or other reference work?
later the same day Harry Krueger's identification article on Idahobirds.net.
another day Harry Krueger's identification article on Idahobirds.net.
Description: White-cheeked Goose, brown upperparts, light brown or tan underparts, dark brown wings, black bill, black neck, black head with large verticle white patch on cheek behind eye, eye dark. Bill was much shorter than Canada Geese present with deeper base resulting in "stubby" appearance. Bill to forehead angle steep, noticably steeper than Canada Geese present. Head square at fore and hind crown. The entire group of six that included this bird was noticably smaller than the other Canada Geese present but also considerably larger than Mallrads, suggesting subspecies other than minima. I feel confident that there was more than one Cackling Goose present. However I only obtained a usable photograph of one individual so this report is for one Cackling Goose.
Behavior: Actively swimming around in a group of six geese. After several minutes the group of six flew off upstream and was not seen again.
How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? The small size of the geese in this group first caught my attention. Close scrutiny revealed square head, steep forehead, and diagnostic bill structure.
How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they? Canada Goose is the only candidate for confusion. Bill structure, head shape, and forehead to bill angle eliminate Canada Goose.
Experience with this species: Limited to a few birds per year for the past three or four years.
General experience birding: 14 years
Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? Yes, see below.
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