Bird identification is so fucked up in a really fun way you can’t understand until you get into it. For example, there is a type of goose called the cackling goose that looks exactly like a Canada goose except smaller and “cuter”. The cackling goose is way, way, more rare in most places than its relatively common cousin, so it’s on tons of birders life lists. Everyone wants to see a cackling (look in any bird ID group to see lots of hopeful people posting petite Canada geese). The two species regularly commingle, so sometimes a flock of those common parking lot birds will have the equivalent of a Pokémon shiny just hanging out in the middle of them.

How ridiculous and fun is that? I can never look at a big group of Canada geese without scrutinizing their ranks for an adorable little extremely rare cutie pie cackling goose. It reminds me a bit of mushroom harvesting minus the risk of death if you get it wrong

the cackling goose is a relatively small goose found in north america & east asia. they are almost identical in appearance to the more common canada goose, however, they are usually distinguished by a smaller size. the smallest subspecies weighs as little as 3lbs; however, larger members of the species can weigh just as much as a canada goose, making them hard to distinguish. they feed primarily on plant matter found in the water; they also occasionally feed on insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. males and females are almost indistinguishable, however, females have a different call.

one of these things is not like the others....the cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) was once considered a subspecies of Canada goose (Branta canadensis). they have overlapping ranges and nearly identical plumage, but are significantly smaller than most Canada geese, with more compact features and higher-pitched vocalizations.

peent

[1987/10977] Cackling goose - Branta hutchinsii

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans) Subfamily: Anserinae (swans and true geese)

Photo credit: Sunil Thirkannad via Macaulay Library

IM GONNA CRY COLORADO ACTUALLY HAS CACKLING GEESE AND AFTER SO LONG OF THERE HYPOTHETICALLY BEING CACKLING GEESE IN CALIFORNIA AND THUS ME ALWAYS WONDERING IF IT WAS A SMALL CANADA GOOSE OR A CACKLING GOOSE IN HOPES

IVE ACTUALLY SEEN THREE LIVE NOW AND YOU CAN TELL AND I LOVE THEM THEYRE SO SMALL AND CUTE (my photo btw)

(image id: a photo of two birds by the lake, one is a small goose - the cackling goose - with a black head and brown body, the other is a large goose - the canada goose - with a black head and brown body; they look very similar except the former is significantly smaller and has rounder facial proportions)

Great size comparison for a Mallard, Cackling Goose, and Canada Goose

I think this is the first cackling goose I could identify by sight! usually I hear them, and I sound ID them with merlin, but this one was clearly smaller than the canada goose next to it. so cute!

Branta hutchinsii [シジュウカラガン,Cackling goose]

3羽仲良く😊

cackling goose (branta hutchinsii) foraging with barnacle geese (branta leucopsis), ireland

First bird photos of the season!

There were so many cackling geese in the field today! Also like 4 Canada geese that kept staring at me, some mallards, and a bunch of lesser gold finches.

Round 1 match 2A

tecksture...

cackling goose at kenneth hahn state recreation area