Honkers (Pics)

26 December 2010, 21:03

collector

Honkers (Pics)

Canada Geese used to be classified into 12 sub-species until recently, when they were split up into two distinct species:

- CANADA GOOSE (7 sub-species)
- CACKLING GOOSE (5 sub-species)

Canada Goose complex now consists of the following 7 sub-species.

1) Branta canadensis occidentalis (Dusky Canada Goose)
2) Branta canadensis fulva (Vancouver Canada Goose)
3) Branta canadensis parvipes (Lesser Canada Goose)
4) Branta canadensis moffitti (Moffit's or Great Basin Canada Goose)
5) Branta canadensis maxima (Giant Canada Goose)
6) Branta canadensis interior (Hudson Bay Canada Goose)
7) Branta canadensis canadensis (Atlantic Canada Goose)

Here are some pics of Branta canadensis canadensis (Atlantic Canada Geese) I took recently.

Discussion of Cackling Geese deserves its own thread so I will leave it for a future post

29 December 2010, 06:37

L. David Keith

I've seen a few Richardson's here in middle TN but never taken one. In TX once, the locals complained about taking only "tiny Canada's" which I assumed were Richardson's. A major cold front pushed in some "big" geese which the locals were thrilled to get. Again, I'm assuming they were Lessors? Good pics as always Oz, thanks for posting.
David

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29 December 2010, 08:35

collector

Thanks David,
Glad you enjoyed the pics.

Here are mean average weights for males of each of the sub-species from heaviest to the lightest.

1) Branta canadensis maxima (Giant Canada Goose) 14.4 lbs
2) Branta canadensis fulva (Vancouver Canada Goose) 10.2 lbs
3) Branta canadensis moffitti (Moffit's or Great Basin Canada Goose) 9.5 lbs
4) Branta canadensis interior (Hudson Bay Canada Goose) 9.2 lbs
5) Branta canadensis canadensis (Atlantic Canada Goose) 8.4 lbs
6) Branta canadensis occidentalis (Dusky Canada Goose) 8.3 lbs
7) Branta canadensis parvipes (Lesser Canada Goose) 6.0 lbs

Now Richardson's are not considered "Canada Goose" any longer. They are full species called "Cackling Goose" now. Here are the sub-species for Cackling Goose.

"CACKLING GOOSE Branta Hutchinsii"
1) Richardson's Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii)
2) Aleutian Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia)
3) Small Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii minima) These guys are tiny and barely the size of a Mallard
4) Taverner's Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii taverneri)

The 5th Cackling Goose sub-species is now extinct....no one has seen or shot one in 80 years.
5) Bering Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii asiatica) *** EXTINCT ***

29 December 2010, 10:08

L. David Keith

Oz, from the time TN allowed hunting of our resident Maxima's, I began recording average weights of both males and females. My findings were: males - 13.25 lbs. females - 11.5 lbs. The goose previously known as the Cackling Canada to my knowledge was a west coast bird. Very small as you mention and darker in color. I've only seen photo's and video, never a live or fresh specimen. During my 17 years as a Taxidermist, my dream was to have the smaller varieties of Canada's. On another note: I tell my waterfowl buddies to stop calling them Canadians. They are Canada Geese. Canadian's are people.

Cheers,
David

30 December 2010, 02:04

Craig Nolan

I've shot many of what you/"they" are apparently now calling the "Small Cackling Goose", here in Northern California; they are in fact small as compared to most other Canadas, but are, on average, larger than mallards. We call them "cacks" out here, and you couldn't shoot them at all for a period of time in the early to mid-90's ... Interestingly, and as seems to be the case with other types of waterfowl, they seemed to be more prevalent when you couldn't shoot them than they do now ... We've also got the Aleutians, the Lessers and the Great Basins here as well, all of which I've shot at one time or another, the coolest being the Aleutians with the neck-ring... thanx again for your great pics and posts Collector, I thoroughly enjoy them ...

Happy New Years to you all,
Craig Nolan

Best Regards,

Craig Nolan

30 December 2010, 07:59

collector

@LDK
Ha ha ha...I know a few Canadians who take offense to these birds being called Canadians

Ok so the MAXIMA sub-species is usually found in Nebraska and neighboring states, there are very few of them. Most of our resident CANADENSIS sub-species are much bigger than the migratory CANADENSIS. Also, true MAXIMA have a white patch on their foreheads.

@CRAIG
Thank you, glad you enjoy the posts and pics. You are so lucky...California is the state to collect multiple sub-species. Amazing what pops up there from Alaska. Also heard lots of guys shooting Eurasian Wigeons in Washington, Oregon and California.

31 December 2010, 04:50

L. David Keith

A friend who is retired from TWRA (TN game and fish) told me the story of how the giant Canada's came to be in TN. We were one of the first States to have them and from just a couple of pairs, our flock grew huge. We have traded them to many States for decades, receiving Turkey's, Deer, Fish and Otter's in return. We have so many now our 3 seasons include: September 1-15th, limit 5 per day, per person. October, 2 per person, then regular duck/goose season is also only 2 per day. It's not common to find migrating birds anymore. Most have been short stopped in IL for a long time. It takes bitter cold to move them down to us.

05 January 2011, 01:20

Craig Nolan

Collector,

very true re the variety in waterfowl we've got here; I've seen (1) Eurasion Wigeon here, sitting on a pond at a National Refuge, and know guys that know guys that have shot them ... I've seen several Blue-Wing Teal but have yet to shoot one, they're rare here but some are shot every year. Interesting enough, there was a Black Duck shot near one of my clubs about 5-6 years ago, a VERY rare occurence and the only one I've ever heard of here. A guy in the Suisun Marsh shot a Baikal Teal a few years back as well, and I saw White-Faced Whistling Ducks (with my own eyes, or I wouldn've have believed it) in a pond in the Sierra foothills, and also saw a Mandarin Duck in a pond, along with thousands of other ducks, below a duck-grind in the Northern Sacramento Valley as well ... good stuff, again I enjoy your posts

Best Regards,
Craig Nolan

Best Regards,

Craig Nolan

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05 January 2011, 06:42

collector

@Craig Nolan,
Wow, I am amazed that a Black Duck showed up in the Pacific Flyway...that is really really far for them. Now I had heard that there was a resident population on Mandarin's in California on private properties...so if you saw one that is a confirmation right there. Thanks for the update.

@juanpozzi
Thanks a lot.