Probable Taiga bean goose x Greater whitefront, January 2025, northeastern Germany (1 Viewer)

[Joern Lehmhus]

Some days ago I got sent a series of photos of a large second calendar year goose in a group of taiga bean geese and greater whitefronts in Northeastern Germany .

I see the bird as a hybrid of Taiga bean goose x Greater whitefront, due to its large size (very nearly Taiga-bean goose) and its external features, especially bill and head/neck shape and coloration:

https://flic.kr/p/2qHYV1B

https://flic.kr/p/2qJ26H8

https://flic.kr/p/2qJ182r

https://flic.kr/p/2qJ1826

This would be the first bird where I am convinced it is this cross - but I still could overlook something-so what are the thoughts here?

For Comparison: Here are photos of hybrids Tundra bean goose x Greater whitefront:
Waarneming.nl

 

[lupokatja]

Nothing to add to your analysis, except perhaps that for me the long neck and dark colouration seem especially convincing. I assume the observer did not note whether the (likely) parents were present also?

Cheers,

Lützen Portengen

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Thanks Lützen!

No, that was not noted, but the observers didn´t specifically look for possible pair bonds between different species in the flock, concentrating on the confusing hybrid.

 

[seawatcher]

Thanks Lützen!

No, that was not noted, but the observers didn´t specifically look for possible pair bonds between different species in the flock, concentrating on the confusing hybrid.

why not taiga bean?

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

why not taiga bean?

I think the bill shape and coloration as well as head shape do not fit well with a Taiga bean goose. To me the bill is flesh colored to pale orange , as in some birds considered to be GWFG x Tundra bean goose hybrids. Also it appears shorter than the bills of the Taiga bean geese in the group. Furthermore the front of the head is higher and more rounded, fitting better with the GWFG.
Even a Taiga bean goose with a mainly orange bill would show a different head and bill profile :

ML444341711 - Taiga Bean-Goose - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML444341711; © Edurne Ugarte; Finnmark, Norway

macaulaylibrary.org

ML622102174 - Taiga Bean-Goose - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML622102174; © Lee Harding; Jiangxi, China

macaulaylibrary.org

And most Taiga bean geese with an orange bill have some black at the base of the upper mandible- in my interpretation of the photos that is missing here.

Though structurally somewhat different, the mystery birds head and neck show quitesome similarity to these Tundra bean x GWFG:

Hybride Kolgans x Toendra/Taigarietgans - Anser albifrons x Anser fabalis/serrirostris

1 ter plaatse 2024-01-17 Well - Meersenhof e.o. (LI)

waarneming.nl

Hybride Kolgans x Toendra/Taigarietgans - Anser albifrons x Anser fabalis/serrirostris

3 ter plaatse 2022-01-16 Schelpenbolweg (NH)

waarneming.nl

Hybride Kolgans x Toendra/Taigarietgans - Anser albifrons x Anser fabalis/serrirostris

1 ter plaatse 2008-02-20 Heusden (NB)

waarneming.nl

Hybride Kolgans x Toendra/Taigarietgans - Anser albifrons x Anser fabalis/serrirostris

2 adult 2025-01-25 Onstwedde - Oude Fiode (GR)

waarneming.nl

Hybride Kolgans x Toendra/Taigarietgans - Anser albifrons x Anser fabalis/serrirostris

1 ter plaatse 2024-12-22 Texel - Eierland - Slufterweg - midden (NH)

waarneming.nl

Hybride Kolgans x Toendra/Taigarietgans - Anser albifrons x Anser fabalis/serrirostris

1 ter plaatse 2024-01-17 Well - Meersenhof e.o. (LI)

waarneming.nl