Odd goose.

[Colin Pumfrett]

An odd goose among a flock of barnacle geese, only noticed it when i uploaded the image on to the computer. Taken on the Humber estuary. Any guesses.

Colin.

[aeshna5]

It's a hybrid. I would say Barnacle Goose is one parent (seems reasonable given its companions here) but the hard part is what is the other parent? Maybe something like Ross's Goose- does resemble some images I've seen elsewhere.

[Billabong Karen]

A cross breed with a snow goose?

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

A cross breed with a snow goose?

I'll second that, looks good for snow x barnacle goose

[Dogghound]

I suspect it is with something like a greylag, its noticably bigger than the other geese. I cant see any real features which make it look like a snow goose, the wing looks very greylag/pink-foot like.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

I suspect it is with something like a greylag, its noticably bigger than the other geese. I cant see any real features which make it look like a snow goose, the wing looks very greylag/pink-foot like.

Wings are also similar to blue morph snow goose. The bird resembles this presumed barnacle x snow goose hybrid:

Flickr: Discussing Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose in Hybrid birds

Cheers
Jonathan

[Farplace]

Certainly looks like it

[Dogghound]

Ah yes, well pointed out Jonathan. I agree.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

The bird resembles this presumed barnacle x snow goose hybrid:

Flickr: Discussing Snow Goose x Barnacle Goose in Hybrid birds

(Bold + underlining added).


It's worth remembering that most hybrids identified in the field can't generally be identified with certainty.
Some of the birds in the link are actually of known parentage, and the bird in question does closely resemble the first one of these, which strongly suggests that it is a Snow x Barnacle Goose hybrid. It does not share all of the features shown by the other hybrids on the page though (perhaps they were Barnacle x Snow Goose hybrids - convention usually being to put the male parent first).

It may be that other hybrid combinations can result in offspring that look like this individual, presumed Brent x Snow Goose and Ross's x Barnacle Goose both look very similar in plumage, and a presumed Bar-headed x Barnacle Goose hybrid closely resembles the darker headed hybrids lower down on the flickr Snow x Barnacle Goose page (examples can be found in the dicussions on the flickr group).
Perhaps some Bar-headed x Barnacle Goose, and/or domestic Greylag x Barnacle Goose hybrids can look very similar to this?

[dunlin]

It's worth remembering that most hybrids identified in the field can't generally be identified with certainty.

Its a good point you can only make your best guess with what you see in front of you

Ive just been reading in collins that geese are monogamous and pair for life, given that fact i'm surprised we dont get far more hybridised birds than we see, or is hybridisation in geese only between young birds attempting to breed for the first time

Im assuming the process of pairing up takes place on the breeding grounds and the more experienced birds will get the best choice of partner and nest site. leaving the less experienced to select a mate from whats left ie other less experienced birds
Is hybridisation a relatively new thing maybe as a result of releasing captive bred birds?