Hello Tweeters,

I received this response from friends of mine in the UK. I had asked them how they tell the two apart. They live on a nature reserve and have pinkfeet there regularly. Doesn't add a whole lot of new information but thought it might be interesting to hear from someone who sees the birds on a daily basis.

Hi Morris,

With great difficulty! I quote from 'Witherby, Jourdain, Ticehurst and
Tucker', and looking at the pictures of both pinkfoot and Bean there appears
very little difference, apart from the orange feet and somewhat darker head
of the Bean.

'Bean-Goose is the 'brownest' of the greys. and is often conspicuously
dark, although not always the case. At a distance it has a much darker more
sooty appearance. Head and neck not darker than back, but contrasted with
paler chest. Light edges of feathers may be more prominent. General
appearance 'long and slim' with noticeably long neck. LEGS ARE ORANGE or
ORANGE YELLOW. Bill is longer and stouter than pinkfoot and coloured orange
yellow and black. Beans are more prone to roost inland.

I spoke to the reserve warden today, she said it was very difficult also to
tell the difference especially from a distance.

Hope this of some help!

Kind regards

Harry and Wendy Hall


Morris Sandvig

naturebook at msn.com

Olympia


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