A nice summary except that it is my impression that the huge flocks of
wintering Canada's in the Columbia Basin of E. Washington are mostly
_parvipes_.

Gene Hunn.

On Wed, 15 Nov 1995, Randy Deardorff wrote:

> Thanks for the help with field identification of Canada Goose
> subspecies.
>
> Several people suggested that the geese we saw might be Cackling.
> Others, one of whom also observed the birds, thought they were more
> likely Taverner's.
>
> I now believe the birds were Taverner's. In my description, I failed
> to note that the smaller geese were essentially in proportion with the
> larger, rather than having smaller stubby bills and shorter necks,
> which would have indicated Cackling.
>
> Here is a summary of what I learned:
>
> The most important characteristics to note are:
>
> 1. Relative size
> 2. Bill size/shape, and head shape/proportions
> 3. Presence and size of white neck ring
> 4. Breast color
> 5. Whether or not the white cheek patches are continuous under the
> chin or interrupted by dark feathers
> 6. Presence of any neck collar or leg band is very useful
>
> The most common subspecies in our area is the Western (Great Basin)
> (Branta canadensis moffitti) which breed and winter here.
> - Largest CAGO in the West, twice the size of Aleutian
> - Relatively slow wingbeat
> - Call is a deep, resounding, 'ahh-onk'
> - Light breast color
> - Long bill and neck
> - Could have red (orangish) plastic neck collar
>
> Cackling (B. c. minima) pass through our area on their way to and from
> their wintering area in California's Central Valley.
> - Smallest CAGO, 1.5 times the size of a Mallard
> - Relatively rapid wing beat
> - Call is a high-pitched yelp
> - Breast dark brown or bronze color, often with purplish cast
> - Short, stubby bill, usually less than 1.25 inches long
> - White neck ring sometimes present, but generally very thin and
> incomplete
> - Forehead slopes back from bill, roundish head shape
> - Cheek patches often continuous under head, but many separated by
> black feathering
> - Could have yellow plastic neck collar
>
> The Dusky (B. c. occidentalis) pass through SW Washington on their way
> to their main wintering area in the Willamette Valley.
> - Medium-sized goose, larger than Lesser, smaller than Western
> - Dark breast color, typically a rich chocolaty brown, but may also
> tend towards gray
> - Neck seems to merge with chest, few birds show neck ring
> - localized distribution in California, in northern coastal area
>
> Vancouver (B. c. fulva), which some lump with Dusky, apparently winter
> mostly north of Washington, though a few migrate to the Willamette
> Valley.
>
> Most of the Taverner's (B. c. taverneri) cross the Cascades to the
> Columbia Basin, but some follow path of the Duskys.
> - Closely resembles Aleutian in many respects, but usually slightly
> larger
> - Breast color variable, but usually slightly lighter than Aleutian.
> Darker breast than Lesser
> - Can have white neck ring on occasion, but almost always incomplete.
> - Rounder head than Aleutian
> - Usually has continuous white cheek patch under head, but not always
>
> Lesser (B. c. parvipes), which some lump with Taverner's, migrate
> mainly (?) east of Washington, to their main wintering area in SE
> Colorado.
> - Medium-sized goose, usually slightly larger than Taverner's
> - Light breast color
> - Overall shape and color resembles 'mini-Western'
> - White cheek patch almost always continuous under head
>
> Aleutian (B. c. leucopareia) have been confirmed in Washington, though
> they are rare. They mostly make landfall in northern California on
> their way to the Central Valley.
> - Slightly larger than Cackler
> - Breast color variable, usually gray-brown, never with purplish cast
> - Bill length usually 1.25-1.5 inches
> - White neck ring present in *all adults*, usually wide and
> pronounced (hatch-year birds generally don't exhibit good neck
> ring until first spring)
> - Thin dark border of feathering usually present just below white
> neck ring
> - More abrupt forehead and flatter top to head than other small CAGOs
> - Cheek patches nearly always separated by black feathering under
> chin
> - Could have a light gray plastic neck collar or a colored leg band
> (usually blue, yellow, red, or green).
>
> Thanks to Michael Smith who provided field characteristics above.
>
> Thanks also to:
>
> Jon Anderson
> Janet Hardin
> Jennifer Seavey
> Gene Hunn
> Steven Feldstein
> Harry Nehls
>
> Other references:
>
> Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America. 3rd ed.
> Johnsgard, P. 1978. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World.
>
> Randy Deardorff
> curlew at eskimo.com
> Seattle, Washington USA
>
>