Date: 1/28/26 2:55 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hybrid goose posts on eBird
There have been two posts about hybrid geese posted to eBird the last
few days from Clark County. I looked at both as they were listed as a snow
goose hybrid: one with a cackler and one with a white-front. I asked my
colleague who knows about goose breeding areas and so much more in our
flyway. His take is that:
I don’t even think it is a hybrid, just looks like a Canada/cackling
goose without black head feathering – there is nothing in that bill that
suggests white-front. Given the sizing in comparison to the Dusky flock
(the red collar) in the background, I don’t know why they are so convinced
it is a “cackling goose” – I’d suggest it is likely a Lesser Canada from
the Anchorage area that has weird genetics going on.
As for the white headed goose in the flying flock: this seems more
likely to be a blue phase snow goose. Or, another white headed color
anomaly as above.
Bird ID is a challenge as there is so much to know, and then the
anomalies come along. Keeps birding interesting.
