Monday 24 February 2014

Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose

Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 12th July 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson
(photo ID: 1064)



This interesting bird seems to tick all the boxes for Bar-headed x Barnacle.  It was among a flock of about 100 Barnacle Geese and Carl Gunnar describes it as being the same size as Barnacle Goose.






Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid (with Barnacle Geese), Malmoe (Sweden), 9th July 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson 
(photo IDs: 1507-1512)


Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 12th July 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson 
(photo ID: 1063)


Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 1st August 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson
(photo ID: 1065)


Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 11th July 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson 
(photo ID: 1062)


As with many other Anser x Branta hybrids, this one showed dusky under tail-coverts:



Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid, Malmoe (Sweden), 9th-12th July 2008 - copyright Carl Gunnar Gustavsson 
(photo IDs: 1038-1040)


I am not completely sure about the ID of the next bird but think this is the most likely solution.  It reminded me a little of some hybrids involving Emperor Goose but on balance I think Bar-headed x Barnacle is a better fit.  Comments are welcome, as always.





probable Bar-headed Goose x Barnacle Goose, near St Albans (Hertfordshire, UK), 12th March 2017 - copyright Alan Winn
(photo IDs: 3153-3157)



Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus 
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

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