These Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser
albifrons) were photographed a few miles southwest
of Karnes City, south Texas on February 18, 2001 by Martin Reid.
Presumably most are of the widespread Nearctic form A. a. frontalis,
but the large individual could be the mysterious Gambel's
White-fronted Goose, A. a. gambeli (per Hartlaub 1852; Delacour and Ripley, 1975), or even the Tule Goose A. a. elgasi. Note not only the long, swan-like neck, large head and
bill, yellow eye ring, and extensive white "front"
(reaching prominently under the lower mandible and over the eyes), but also the
dark cap that runs down the nape onto the upper hindneck,
the darker ground color to the upperparts, with thinner pale
fringing (the belly barring shows that it is not a first-cycle),
the prominent white tip to the tail, the longer legs
(visually manifested as a higher belly height), and larger
body bulk. In flight it was obviously larger in total by at
least 10% - 15%, and the wings looked especially long, compared
to the typical birds alongside it; I'd appreciate any feedback
- thanks:
This next image is a crop/merge from the above pic, of the larger
goose (top) and the adult from the far left (bottom):
