Snow goose vs hydrid?

[da2fa...@gmail.com]

Good morning,

 

From the morn I study birds the less I know category…

 

This morning at Fossil Creek Reservoir in Larimer County I observed what I first believed was a dark morph snow goose (photos below).  After watching it awhile and looking at my photos I started thinking is may be a Snow X Canada hybrid.  I bit of reading online confused my more.

 

This bird was a bit larger than the associated cackling geese, had a small grin patch and pink bill, pink legs, and, to me, the body color of a Canada/cackling goose but perhaps a bit darker.  Any thoughts or tips on ID would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Dave Farmer

Larimer County

 

 

 

 

[Peter Ruprecht]

Dave,

A pure "Blue Goose" or dark-morph Snow Goose will usually show long, light gray tertial wing feathers draping off of its back over its flanks.  Since your bird looks like it has a fairly standard brown Canada/Cackling body and wings, I'd say it's a Branta/Snow hybrid of some sort. 

Peter Ruprecht

Superior

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[Randy Fischer]

Dave, 

I'm pleased someone else has seen the goose.  I think I have seen the same bird several times at Fossil Creek, and was hoping someone would suggest a possible identification.  

Randy Fischer

Fort Collins