Subject: Canada Goose Subspecies Question
Date: Oct 24 12:23:07 1995
From: Randy Deardorff - curlew at eskimo.com


This Sunday (10/22) at Damon Point, there was a group of about 20
Canada Geese on the central pond. With them, were 6 individuals of
one of the smaller subspecies. I've never seen any of these before,
at least not so closely associated with the larger geese, where their
smaller size was so obvious.

They seemed to be a bit more than half the size of the larger geese.
Definitely bigger than Mallards, which were also present. Their
breasts were darker than their bigger cousins, with a warm brown cast.
There was no white neck ring. The white cheek-patches seemed
narrower, even slightly pointed.

I've consulted the usual field guides, but they seem to offer somewhat
conflicting information on the subspecies. I've also read the
appropriate passages from "Birds of Washington State", Jewett et al,
1953, as well as another waterfowl book I forget the name of, but I
have not been able to make sense of it. Any ideas?

If anyone wants to reply personally, I will summarize back to the list.

Thanks.

Randy Deardorff / Barb Smith
curlew at eskimo.com
Seattle, Washington USA