IBRC 13-B-10
Idaho Bird Records Committee
Rarities Report Form
Species: Cackling Goose, 2 probable Richardson's race (also present was at least 3 darker breasted individuals with heavier/larger bills that I believe were of the taverneri race but no photos were obtained)
Reporter:
Cliff Weisse
4125 Beaver Springs Rd.
Island Park, ID 83429
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com
Other Observers: Lisa Weisse
Date of Observation: 9 January 2010
Date Report Prepared: 20 January 2010
Locality of Observation: On the east side of Locust Grove Rd., between McMillan and Ustick in Meridian, Ada County.
Habitat: Vacant field amid subdivisions.
Conditions: Bright overcast with calm wind. Distance between 40 and 75 yards. 10 x binocs and 20-60 spotting scope were used. Lighting conditions were good and color discernment was excellent. Length of observation approximately 15 minutes.
Did you take notes… No
Did you consult a field guide or other reference work? No
Description: White-cheeked Geese with black head, vertical white cheek patch, tan flanks, brown back, white rump, black tail, etc., in a flock of about 200 Canada and Cackling Geese. These individuals appeared smaller than all surrounding Canada Geese. Size was judged based on continued observations of bith individuals at various distances and in close proximity to Canada Geese, sometimes within 2-3 yards. At all times these birds appeared smaller. Breast and flanks were pale, paler than surrounding Canada Gees, and flanks had obvious darker grayish vertical barring. Cheek patch on one individual showed a notch, or step narrower, behind the eye typical of Richardson's Cackling Goose. Wing coverts on both birds pale brownish at the base grading to darker brown near the tips with bright, sharply contrasting, pale tips. Head had steeper forehead and more severe bill to head angle. Bill was shorter and proportionately deeper based than surrounding Canada Geese. At times some of the Canada Geese appeared similarly short-billed but that was due to angle of observation and they eventually turned their heads revealing actual bill size/shape. On the two birds being reported here the bill always looked short and all profile views showed the deep base. Both had proportionately shorter and thicker looking necks. One of the birds had a whitish patch on the forehead. I couldn't tell if it was a stain or a pigment anomoly.
Behavior: Feeding in weedy field. No interactions with other birds was observed.
How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? With binoculars I could see the size difference, small bill, and coverts pattern. Closer study with spotting scope revealed the other field marks described and confirmend my initial belief that they were Cackling Geese.
How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they? The only species that could be confused with Cackling Goose is Canada Goose. These individuals difered from Canada in plumage and structure, most notably in bill structure. The short deep based bill, steep forehead angle, short thick neck, sharply contrasting pale tips on wing coverts are consistent with Cackling Goose but not with Canada. The very pale breast and obviously barred flanks combined with the size and shpe of the bill suggest Richardson's to me (taverneri has a somewhat larger bill and typically a darker breast).
Experience with this species: I've seen perhaps 30 non-minima Cackling Geese since the split and many thousands of Canada Geese. I've been sorting through Canada Geese annually since they were split searching for Cackling Geese.
General experience birding: 17 or so years
Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? yes, see below.
On above photos note overall size and structure compared to Canada Geese as well as paler breast.
