Bird ID for Upstate NY (1 Viewer)

[sja68]

Hi, I have a couple of bird pictures that I was hoping that someone could help with the ID.

The goose was in with a big flock of canadian Greese. It looked like it had black markings down the back of his head.





I hope I have attached them correctly.

Thank you.

Kathy

 

[AlexC]

Hi Kathy,

I dunno how you attached them like that - very strange! None the less, the links work! Hahaha.

When were the photos taken?

1) a molting Bonaparte's Gull (next to a Ring-billed Gull)
2) Northern Mockingbird
3) a domestic/farmyard goose

 

[cavan wood]

I agree with Alex on all three, although someone who knows their Asian geese can tell you which line of goose it is domesticated from (Chinese/Swan goose I think).

Scott

 

[sja68]

Alex and Scott, Thank you for your replies. The pictures were taken last weekend. I thought the one was a mockingbird but when I looked in my book it looked brown and not like the one I submitted.

Thank you again.
Kathy

 

[Chris Benesh]

Hi All,

The goose looks like a young Snow Goose to me. Example:
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/40926334

I agree with the gull and mockingbird.

Chris

 

[cavan wood]

Hi All,

The goose looks like a young Snow Goose to me. Example:
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/40926334

I agree with the gull and mockingbird.

Chris

Hmm. I thought the brown on the back of the neck/head was too brown, the bill was too dark for this time of year, and that the photo was just overexposed. But you're probably right, because I've never seen a young snowgoose or a chinese goose.

Man, why would I ever agree with Alex. The guy knows nothing.8-P

Scott

 

[sandtiger]

I agree with the first two and agree that the goose is likely a juvenile snow goose.

 

[AlexC]

Hmm. I thought the brown on the back of the neck/head was too brown, the bill was too dark for this time of year, and that the photo was just overexposed. But you're probably right, because I've never seen a young snowgoose or a chinese goose.

Man, why would I ever agree with Alex. The guy knows nothing.8-P

Scott

3

Man, how could I ever have faith in Scott - the guy's such a flip-flopper! 8-P
'Op the fence, ya' wanka'!||

Hi All,

The goose looks like a young Snow Goose to me. Example: http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/40926334

I agree with the gull and mockingbird.

Chris

Interesting. I hadn't considered it, but having done so now, I am skeptical.

These photos were taken this weekend - mid-April. Sibley lists Snow Goose juvies to be out of juvie plumage by January. BNA Online says:

Immature white morph becomes increasingly white on body (through wear) as winter progresses. ... Legs, feet, and bill initially gray, becoming pinkish late in winter.

So check out the blow-up I attached. I don't see the grooves on the neck I'd expect on a Snow (though admittedly, it's difficult to tell considering how much I had to blow-up the picture). Those legs, feet, and bill are DARK. Now about the body. I TOTALLY took the picture as overexposed! After tilting my head at the photo because of Chris's hypothesis, suddenly the possibility of this being actual WHITE plumage seemed real! To be honest, I'm really struggling with being able to tell if there is overexposure going on or not! Can any photog-pros fill us in on their opinions / why it could/could not be overexposed because of the view on other elements in the photo?

I'm still skeptical.

 

[Chris Benesh]

Hi Alex,

I assume we are considering whether this bird is a Swan Goose or a Snow Goose?
Here is an example of a Swan Goose that would be at the slim end of the spectrum:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/research/images/Swan_Goose06.jpg

While the neck pattern of the Swan Goose is like that of the mystery bird, the rest of the plumage is not. The exposure in the picture looks pretty good. I'm guessing overcast sky. Look at the back end of the Canada Goose on the left. It looks properly exposed. The mystery goose looks largely white, but with some dark centers to the tertials and dark primaries. The bill is foreshortened, but looks good shape wise for Snow. There seems to be a large grin patch, though it does not stand out because the bill itself is still somewhat dark. The legs may not be bright pink, but they don't look any darker than those of this young Snow:
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/40926334

Look at the underparts. There is no contrast between the vent and the flanks. If this were a Swan Goose or such similar, it would have contrast between flanks and vent, and would have darker, scalloped upperparts.

Getting back to the immature Snow Goose photo above, make note of the date. It is from March 17th.
Other examples of young Snows. They are somewhat variable, but have a general shape and coloration:
http://bp2.blogger.com/_ODUGlGhaapI/RczHEsuGquI/AAAAAAAAAWk/HX1Bk7TY1Ek/s1600-h/juv+snow+goose.jpg
http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Waterfowl/SNGOimm4.jpg
http://thebirdguide.com/washington/images_2006/IMG_8035_snow_goose_300x.jpg
http://www.dpughphoto.com/images/snow geese pea island 10306 two on ground.JPG

Chris

 

[cavan wood]

3

Man, how could I ever have faith in Scott - the guy's such a flip-flopper! 8-P
'Op the fence, ya' wanka'!||

Hurry up and agree on something you guys so I can unequivocally decide what it is.

Scott

 

[birderbf]

Hi Alex,

I assume we are considering whether this bird is a Swan Goose or a Snow Goose?
Here is an example of a Swan Goose that would be at the slim end of the spectrum:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/research/images/Swan_Goose06.jpg

While the neck pattern of the Swan Goose is like that of the mystery bird, the rest of the plumage is not. The exposure in the picture looks pretty good. I'm guessing overcast sky. Look at the back end of the Canada Goose on the left. It looks properly exposed. The mystery goose looks largely white, but with some dark centers to the tertials and dark primaries. The bill is foreshortened, but looks good shape wise for Snow. There seems to be a large grin patch, though it does not stand out because the bill itself is still somewhat dark. The legs may not be bright pink, but they don't look any darker than those of this young Snow:
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/40926334

Look at the underparts. There is no contrast between the vent and the flanks. If this were a Swan Goose or such similar, it would have contrast between flanks and vent, and would have darker, scalloped upperparts.

Getting back to the immature Snow Goose photo above, make note of the date. It is from March 17th.
Other examples of young Snows. They are somewhat variable, but have a general shape and coloration:
http://bp2.blogger.com/_ODUGlGhaapI/RczHEsuGquI/AAAAAAAAAWk/HX1Bk7TY1Ek/s1600-h/juv+snow+goose.jpg
http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Waterfowl/SNGOimm4.jpg
http://thebirdguide.com/washington/images_2006/IMG_8035_snow_goose_300x.jpg
http://www.dpughphoto.com/images/snow geese pea island 10306 two on ground.JPG

Chris

Bingo.

:-O