December 5th 2006. Turner's Falls, MA. Canada Goose. Branta canadensis. This aberrant Canada Goose was on the power canal this afternoon. Throughout the fall I’ve been seeing very small numbers of Canada Geese with variable amounts of white flecking scattered about the black neck, but not on other parts of the plumage. This is the most extreme example that I’ve seen so far, with extensive white feathering surrounding the bill as well. On November 4th, I noted about ten birds (out of 600) showing variable amounts of white flecking on the Umass campus pond, though none were quite as extensively marked as this bird. I don’t recall seeing this feature in the numbers of Canada Geese that I scanned through last fall. Rather than being a result of hybridization, it seems to be a genuine plumage aberration though I’m surprised that I’ve noted it so frequently this fall. (View apparent hybrid Greater White-fronted x Canada Geese from Connecticut). Anyone else noticed this? Does anyone have an opinion on the root of the white marks in these Canada Geese? james@keenbirding.com Images taken using Canon Powershot A540 through Swarovski HD Telescope. |
     |