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Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Above and below: A western Greater White-fronted Goose in eastern Los Angeles Co., California (10/4/2011).
Above: A Greenland Greater White-fronted Goose playing 'Where's Waldo?' amidst a flock of Canada Geese in Frederick Co., Maryland (11/18/2007).
Above and below: Documentation photos of an inland subspecies Greater White-fronted Goose at Little Meadows Lake, Garrett Co., Maryland (12/2/2007). Most of our area's Greater White-fronted Goose records are of the flavirostris subspecies, which breeds in Greenland. Some of the key field marks for the Greenland population include an orange bill, dark head, and extensive dark speckling on the belly. Although there is still contention about this species' taxonomy, the latest data I've seen describes three "pink-billed" inland subspecies of Greater White-fronted Goose. These are less expected but possible on the East Coast: Tundra (frontalis), the Beaufort Sea population (gambelli), and Tule Goose (elgasi). The Tundra subspecies (frontalis) is the most expected of the inland subspecies in our area, but eliminating the other two is considered difficult. Tundra has the largest range and population size of the inland subspecies, and has been confirmed in a number of records along the East Coast. The nominate European subspecies (albifrons) is not expected in our area, but is similar to frontalis. According to Birds of North America On-line, there have been "no Nearctic band recoveries in Siberia, or Palearctic recoveries in North America." I can find no records of this subspecies in North America. The bill of the bird shown here is a bubblegum pink that really jumped out at us, contrasting strongly with the bird's bright orange legs. It was smaller and lighter than a Greenland bird, with relatively little speckling on the belly. This individual, which was found by Mikey Lutmerding, is one of the first documented records of an inland subspecies of Greater White-fronted Goose in Maryland. It's fascinating that the more expected visitors to our area are of the population that breeds in Greenland rather than Alaska and Canada. Additional comments are welcomed. Thanks to those who have commented already.
Below: A juvenile Greater White-fronted Goose in Malibu, California (10/10/2011).
Note the lack of namesake white front!
