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====Middendorff's Goose==== | ====Middendorff's Goose==== | ||
[[Image:31557bean-goose 8053.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies "middendorffi"<br />Photo by {{user|Peter+de+Haas|Peter de Haas}}<br />Upo wetland [[Korea]], February 2007 (click on image for larger version)]] | [[Image:31557bean-goose 8053.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies "middendorffi"<br />Photo by {{user|Peter+de+Haas|Peter de Haas}}<br />Upo wetland [[Korea]], February 2007 (click on image for larger version)]] | ||
| − | The subspecies '' | + | The subspecies ''middendorffii'' has recently been proposed for splitting from the other two types. |
*Bill is much larger than the other two, often looking like a direct continuation of the crown. | *Bill is much larger than the other two, often looking like a direct continuation of the crown. | ||
*Longest neck | *Longest neck | ||
| − | '''Juvenile forms''' are more scaly on the back and lack the white at the base of the bill. | + | '''Juvenile forms''' are more scaly on the back and lack the white at the base of the bill. |
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Northern [[Scandinavia]] and [[Russia]] including [[Siberia]]. | Northern [[Scandinavia]] and [[Russia]] including [[Siberia]]. | ||
Revision as of 07:19, 8 December 2010
- Anser fabalis
Includes Taiga Bean Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, and Middledorf's Goose
Identification
Taiga form (fabilis)
- Dark goose with a long neck
- Head, neck, and back are dark brownish
- Lightest on the back
- Underside is lighter
- Bill is quite long
- Very variable with regards to extent of black and orange
- Orange often found on the distal part and almost always more extensive than in the Tundra form
- May be a narrow white edge between bill and feathers on the head, especially above the bill.
In flight, tail pattern is conspicuous: narrow white terminal band, broader black band, and the innermost part white. Belly is white. Both upper and lower sides of wings are dark, without much contrast between coverts and primaries/secondaries.
Tundra form (serrirostris)
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Similar to Taiga form
- Neck is shorter and heavier
- Bill is shorter than in the Taiga form (not much longer than it is high)
- Birds with more than a small orange spot near the tip of the bill are rare in this form
- Orange is always sharply defined (mostly more diffusely edged in the Taiga form)
Middendorff's Goose
Photo by Peter de Haas
Upo wetland Korea, February 2007 (click on image for larger version)
The subspecies middendorffii has recently been proposed for splitting from the other two types.
- Bill is much larger than the other two, often looking like a direct continuation of the crown.
- Longest neck
Juvenile forms are more scaly on the back and lack the white at the base of the bill.
Distribution
Northern Scandinavia and Russia including Siberia.
Both forms occur in Europe in winter, with northernmost flocks almost exclusively belonging to the Taiga form. A small population regularly winter in the Falkirk area of Scotland.
Taxonomy
Five subspecies are recognized[1]:
- A.f. fabilis -- northern forest zone (taiga) west of the Urals
- A.f. johanseni -- northern forest zone (taiga) east of the Urals to Lake Baikal (often included in the following by other authorities)
- A.f. middendorffii -- northern forest zone (taiga) east of johanseni
- A.f. serrirostris -- tundra zone in eastern Siberia
- A.f. rossicus -- tundra zone in western Siberia and the northernmost part of European Russia
The following groups are recognized as full species by some or other authorities
- Subspecies fabilis is often called Taiga Bean Goose (Anser fabilis) together with subspecies johanseni and middendorfii, and occurs from Scandinavia to the Ural Mountains to Lake Baikal, and into eastern Siberia.
- Subspecies serrirostris together with rossicus is often called Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris) and occurs from Northern Russia to north-east Siberia.
- Subspecies middendorffii (Middendorff's Goose -- including the population sometimes known as johanseni) is genetically more dissimilar from the two other forms than they are from each other.
These splits have not been recognized by the majority of current world-wide checklists so the Opus awaits further clarification.
In the past, Pink-footed Goose was included in Bean Goose.
Habitat
Breeds in Tundra and humid openings in northern forest, especially birch and coniferous forests. Winters in agricultural areas, mostly grassy fields.
Behaviour
Diet
In winter, it grazes in crops such as grass, cereals and potatoes; bean field stubbles were particularly liked by the fabilis form giving rise to its name. Middledorff's Goose is particularly fond of marshes.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Anser fabalis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of the Bean Goose complex including the possibility of splitting it in three species.
External Links
