Idaho Bird Records Committee Rarities Report Form

#67-B-06

Species: Cackling Goose - 'minima'

Reporter: Jay Carlisle

6105 Kirkwood Rd

Boise, ID 83709

jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

Other Observers: none

Date Report Prepared: 11-6-06

Date Sighting Occurred: 11-5-06; between 330-515pm (2 occasions)

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

Habitat: grassy field

Conditions: cloudy and calm; I used naked eye and Swarovski EL 10x42 binoculars.

Did you take notes? not at all

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

What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult?

Sibley & National Geographic

Description: A small goose with Canada Goose-like patterning but with darker brown overall coloration (especially the chest), a smaller bill, and a steeper forehead - 'minima' subspecies.

Behavior: The bird was feeding on grass in the company of 2 Canada Geese (among a large feeding flock) and was associating more closely with 1 of the 2 Canadas.

How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you? Right away due to size in comparison to the nearby Canadas and also upon observing the darker color on the chest and 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 2x the size – 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 this same location in recent years (reports in prep).

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) Yes - but these are terrible photos (bad lighting and my camera wouldn’t focus without the flash but the flash made pictures dark) - sorry.