Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: takkatakka on October 11, 2017, 06:17:41 PM

Title: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: takkatakka on October 11, 2017, 06:17:41 PM

Hello,

  Saw this goose in a field in Markham. With about thirty Canada Geese, with ten more arriving as I was there. At first I was thinking it was a Snow Goose, but I'm now wondering if this might be a Ross's. All comments are appreciated.

   Thanks,

Title: Re: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: Paul O'Toole on October 11, 2017, 07:37:51 PM

Looks good for a Ross's Goose.

Title: Re: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: Brown-headed Birder on October 11, 2017, 08:49:20 PM

Unless the Ross's Goose is on inaccessible private property it would be wonderful if you would post directions to the goose.  For many people this might be a lifer.  Thanks!

Theresa

Title: Re: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: takkatakka on October 11, 2017, 09:34:23 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

We actually saw it in two different places in Markham.  At first we saw it in one of the flat areas (preparation for construction) on the North side of 16th Avenue, just West of Donald Cousens Pkwy.  After returning with our camera we saw it had moved to a field on the East side of Reesor Road just south of 16th Avenue.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: lucky tern on October 13, 2017, 02:34:03 PM

i don't see the "grin" patch so not a pure snow but bill looks large and forehead not very steep for a pure ross's...unfortunately i think it's probably a hybrid.  Which really makes no one happy.

Title: Re: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: lucky tern on October 13, 2017, 02:58:40 PM

nice comp of ross vs snow vs hybrid on this link

http://kevinkarlsonphotography.com/gall ... 4.jpg.html (http://kevinkarlsonphotography.com/gallery/v/Frontiers/Figure+31+-+Ross_s+Goose+and+Snow+Goose+final+2+Jan+2014.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: Brown-headed Birder on October 14, 2017, 07:12:37 PM

With the discussion on Ross's vs hybrid, and thinking personally a slightly odd Ross's, I sent the picture to Ron Pittaway and here is his exact reply:


--------------------------------------------
On Sat, 10/14/17, Ron Pittaway  wrote:
 
 I sent the photos to goose expert Ken
 Abraham, retired research scientist with the MNRF. Ken said,
 "Well, it's not quite typical Ross's in the way the bill
 slopes from the crown and perhaps a bit of a hybrid grin
 patch, but it's got a lot of Ross's in bill colour, facial
 feather line, etc. Conservative call is hybrid, but I could
 accept variation within Ross's."
 
 Happy birding,
 
 Ron


So, there you have it

Theresa

Title: Re: Ross's or Snow Goose?
Post by: takkatakka on October 14, 2017, 08:27:28 PM

Thank you everyone.  I really appreciate all the effort that was put into this and find it really interesting.

It is a beautiful bird.

Thanks.