Help identifying Geese please

Phil Whiley · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 08:50 PM

I took these pictures at Martin Mere a few days ago, and would appreciate if someone could help confirm identity for me.

I think No 2 is Pink-Footed Goose, is No 3 Lesser Canada? (had been reported as being present at Martin Mere, but I'm now not sure of the ID).
Thanks
Phil

Picidae · #2 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 08:33 AM

pic 3 is very likely a domestic Canada x Greylag (and Greylags) - quite a common hybrid. Pic 1 is also likely to be Canada x Greylag (with Greylags)

2 is not a Pinkfoot - it has an orange bill for starters which would be very unusual. Can't see anything rule out a Greylag for that one!

david156 · #3 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picidae

pic 3 is very likely a domestic Canada x Greylag (and Greylags) - quite a common hybrid. Pic 1 is also likely to be Canada x Greylag (with Greylags)

2 is not a Pinkfoot - it has an orange bill for starters which would be very unusual. Can't see anything rule out a Greylag for that one!

Have to agree with this.

We get a lot of canada x greylags on the broads and around the coast and they look very similar to this. A lesser canada is like a canada goose but a lot smaller.

Phil Whiley · #4 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 11:27 AM

Thanks both. Now what I need is a better guide book and more practice...

Regards
Phil

Picidae · #5 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Whiley

Thanks both. Now what I need is a better guide book and more practice...

Regards
Phil

It certainly doesn't help Phil when there's so many feral ducks and geese around these days mixing up their genes til it's often impossible to tell what parentage/hybrid mix they are! Keep going. (The Collins field guide is the standard recommendation - new one (2nd ed.) out in May I believe so I'd hang on for that. It won't help much with 'odd' mixes of wildfowl though but will at least help you to rule out any hybrids/domestic mixes if you can ID the 'pure' ones!

joycee · #6 (**permalink**) 09-02-2011, 07:04 PM

Hi, I have just seen the same hybrid in Hammersmith, London in the river Thames. i think my bird knowledge is fair, but I'd never seen one before today. Does anyone know how common they are?

aeshna5 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-02-2011, 08:20 PM

They're not that uncommon. I conduct the WeBS survey along the river between Putney+ Barnes which passes through Hammersmith + I've seen probably this bird on most of my recent counts. If you go to some of the central London parks where there are plenty of Canadas + Greylag, there are quite a few hybrids too.