Record #: 3-B-07

Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form

Species: Cackling Goose

Reporter: Jay Carlisle

6105 Kirkwood Rd

Boise, ID 83709

jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

Other Observers: none

Date Report Prepared: 1-8-07

Date Sighting Occurred: 12-8-06

Locality of Observation: Ann Morrison Park, Boise, Ada Co.

Habitat: grassy field

Conditions: I don’t remember the weather but it wasn’t raining; I used naked eye and walked to within 20 feet of the bird (I have 20/12 eyesight).

Did you take notes? not at all

Did you consult a field guide or other reference work? after the observation

Sibley & National Geographic

Description: A small goose with Canada Goose-like patterning but a smaller bill, a steeper forehead, and a narrow white line between the dark neck and grayish-brown chest. My best guess is that this bird was of the subspecies ‘taverneri’ based on the moderate darkness to the chest and moderate size (larger than ‘minima’).

Behavior: The bird was feeding on grass in the company of many Canada Geese, including several of the Lesser (‘parvipes’) subspecies.

How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? I quickly noticed the size in comparison to the nearby Canadas and then focused in on the smaller bill and different forehead shape.

How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they? Canada Goose is the only similar appearing species but is larger and differentiated by the above-mentioned features.

Experience with this species (and similar species): I have observed many Cackling Geese during migration and winter in California and have observed several others at Ann Morrison Park in recent years (now including 3 different subspecies – minima, taverneri, and hutchinsii - in 2006). I also have experience differentiating between Lesser Canadas and Cackling Geese.

General birding experience: extensive; 14+ years in US and Latin America

Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? (If yes, please include or attach) No.