Anser erythropus x Branta leucopsis

(c) Harry J. Lehto


Lesser White-fronted Goose x Barnacle Goose hybrid/ Kilju x Valkoposkihanhi

Ruissalo, Turku, Finland, May 27, 2008
Distance about 30m Canon EF 500mmf4.0 (+1.4x)
Canon 1DMkIII, 640-800 ISO

This is not a very difficult goose. One of the parents is clearly a Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) and the other parent is a Lesser White-Fronted Goose. (Anser erythropus) The bird was found in a flock of Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis) with another odd color.

Field marks that point towards a Lesser white fronted as being one of the parents: 1. The bill in the pale
2. White frontal shield goinghigh
3. Eyering
4. Yellow feet
5. Long wings
6. Size of the bird (clearly smaller than a barnacle)
7. Leg patch + brown colors (as in other ansers too)

The parentage of the Barnacle goose being one parent is suggested by
1. Dark on the bill (any branta)
2. Cheeck patterns and the dark eyeline
3. Lower limit of the dark coloration on the breast
4. Dark tail (any branta)
5. Patterns of the pale coloring on the primaries








Last update: May 28, 2008



hits since Jan 1, 2005
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