Help with hybrid(?) goose identification

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Mike Britten

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Dec 10, 2025, 2:42:07 PM (6 days ago) Dec 10
to cobirds
Folks,

I birded at Union Reservoir near Longmont this morning. There were thousands of geese (along with 22 bald eagles looking for an easy meal). Mostly they were cackling geese but a few snow geese (including a dark morph), a couple of Ross' geese (including a dark morph bird but I'm not sure it is a pure Ross' goose?) and one greater white-fronted goose were also there.

There were also a few puzzling (to me) hybrids. I wonder if anyone has thoughts as to what these might be? Photos include in the checklist.

Mike Britten

Archer Silverman

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Dec 10, 2025, 2:51:15 PM (6 days ago) Dec 10
to Mike Britten, cobirds
The first bird does look good for Greater White-fronted X Cackling to me. There’s this one pair of Greater White-fronted X Cackling in California
that are a good reference for that hybrid(see attached image). The other two birds do look good for Snow X Cackling, probably juvenile blue morph Snows X Cackling.

Archer Silverman
Denver

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