These two presumed Richardson's Canada
Geese (Branta canadensis hutchinsii) were photographed
at Linkcrest Landfill, Fort Worth, Texas on January 2, 2003. They
were loosely associating with a small group of feral Swan Geese-types,
and a few tame Mallards (these two geese were only slightly larger
than the Mallards) and feral Muscovies - but they have only just
arrived in the last couple of days, as I check this pond every
time I go gulling at Linkcrest. Interestingly, two separate Ross's
Geese have popped up on opposite sides of Tarrant County in the
last couple of days, one associating with feral geese at Benbrook
and the other with some Coots in north Arlington. This suggests
a small late push of lost geese into our area.
These two look just like the few hutchinsii that I've seen
before, except that one has an obvious and rather thick dark throat
line dividing the white face "strap":
Bird a), with a dark throat line; the shape and pattern of the
underpart feathers, plus the dull upperparts fringing, point to
this being a first-winter bird:
Note how the slightest bit of shadow seems to exaggerate the throat
line:
Bird b), with extensive white in the "strap" and some
white flecking in the head; the shape of the underpart feathers,
plus the strong fringing on the upperparts, point to this being
an adult-type bird:
The two birds together:
