Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii
Cackling Goose, minima, 11/23/06, Shoreline Park, Mountain View
The bird above is minima, the smallest subspecies; note the rounded head and absence of neck ring. The ones in the three pictures below are Aleutian (leucopareia) -- note the neck ring, slightly longer bill, and especially the blocky shape of the head.
Cackling Goose, Aleutian, 12/17/08, Shoreline Lake, Mountain View
Cackling Goose,  Aleutian, 11/23/08, Shoreline Park, Mountain View
Cackling Goose, Aleutian, 11/23/08, Shoreline Park, Mountain View
Cackling Goose, Aleutian, 2/18/07, Guadalupe River, San Jose
Above, a Cackling Goose of the Aleutian subpecies; below, the same bird looks to be launching a David/Goliath sneak attack from the rear on a much bigger Canada Goose.
Cackling Goose, Aleutian, and two Canada Geese, 2/18/07, Guadalupe River, San Jose
Cackling Goose, minima, 1/17/09, Byxbee Park, Palo Alto
The bird shown above and below is a minima -- note the dark breast and underparts, as well as the small bill and absence of a neck ring.
Cackling Goose, minima, 1/17/09, Byxbee Park, Palo Alto
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