Goose Flight Structure Study Shots CACG

Cackling Goose CACG* (Branta hutchinsii)

 

Elk Lake

Saanich

Greater Victoria BC

 

DSCN0195 cacg interesting

 

So here we see

[From right to left ] 2 Minima..then 2 that are larger ..then one more which seems too big in the body for Minima... and looks to be portly even by Taverner standards.. a neck ring and its odd structural aspects could make Aleutian a possibility

 

the 2 larger are almost certainly Taverner's Cackling Geese

 

This is an interesting flock even if subspecies differentiation is not conclusive

 

 

2 sub species

of CAGC

by audio and photo doc review

 

 

If you look at the obviously smaller ones would be Minima (Ridgeways)

very small with tiny bills

 

 

Smaller = "Ridgway" Cackling Goose CACG* (Branta hutchinsii minima)

aka "Minima" subspecies

 

Taverner’s (Cackling) Goose

CACG* (Branta hutchinsii taverneri ) are bigger bodied

and proportionally longer necked

 

Part of a self induced ongoing White Cheek Goose Study / Review

 

"Minima" subspecies

is usually our most common overwint'ring cackler

 

but

this in recent Years it seems that the numbers of

Taverner’s

are Increasing as an overwinterer in our area

 

Done