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We're novices at the 'small race' Canada Geese and originally considered the bird might have been a Todd's Canada Goose Branta canadensis interior but we're now thinking it's too small and a shorter looking neck has led us to consider Lesser Canada Goose B.c.parvipes and Taverner's Canada Goose B.c.taverneri as possibilities.
Features of note include;
-largely brown breast and flanks with a small whitish collar at the base of the neck
-narrow brown fringes to coverts
-very obvious black gular line
-lower half of chinstrap appears creamy white, brightening to be whiter at the top
-possibly a rounded head shape
-difficult to be certain of the bill size/shape-seems medium sized, possibly too large for taverneri and perhaps a better fit for parvipes
-small overall appearance, size is only slightly larger than Pink-footed Geese with relatively short looking neck (perhaps not long enough for Todd's?) and fairly short looking legs with a similar looking 'carriage' to the Barnacle Geese.
Expert opinion would certainly be appreciated-anyone with much experience of these forms can email us directly at northronbirdobs@hotmail.co.uk with their thoughts