[mou] Hybrid Canada/White-fronted Goose

[Dennis/Barbara Martin]

Saw a very interesting bird today on Gorman lake in Le Sueur County.  It
appeared in all aspects to be a hybrid between Canada and White-fronted
Goose.  While it was the size of the 150 Canada Geese that it was with, it
had a pink bill and pink legs that match the colors of a white-fronteds
colors. There were no White-fronted Geese in this particular area for
comparison but I had seen a dozen a couple of hours earlier in Rice County
so I had a good feel for the color (i.e. I was not remembering colors from
last year.)  The plumage in all other aspects appeared to be from a Canaga
Goose although I had trouble seeing the complete underside because of other
geese getting and staying in the way.

As these two species nest in the same general areas I am sure that this is
not an extremely rare combination but it was the first time I had ever seen
it.

Dennis Martin
dbmartin@skypoint.com