Taken today in Albuquerque, NM. Thank you in advance!
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 6, 2011 at 8:45 PM
Hmmm.... it looks a lot like a Harlequin Duck but that bill is bizarre! Were any others like this, or was this the oddball out? It almost looks like a Harlequin X Brant but I can almost assure you that's not possible!
Well, apparently it's a red-breasted goose. (I've been obsessively searching online.)
And it's no wonder he wasn't in my North American Field Guide:
The red-breasted goose nests in Siberia and winters in Eastern Europe. Either this goose is very lost, or it escaped it's enclosure...
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 6, 2011 at 9:48 PM
You're right - and it really does look like a Harlequin X Brant... interesting.
Do yo have any photos of its feet? Ducks/Geese that are kept in captivity are supposed to clip the hind toe so if they escape people will know if they are captive birds or wild birds...
If it can be proven this is a wild bird - it would be an excellent find!
VERY cool bird - they are so beautiful, my guess is that lots of enthusiasts want to breed them
Here is a bit from the web on this:
http://www.lelandhayes.com/articles/red_breasted_goose.pdf
Rebecca. I bet the local Audubon Society would have some info on local people who might have a flock and might be missing one. It's pretty unlikely he/she got this far off course from Siberia!
Sandy
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 6, 2011 at 11:02 PM
If it looks like a Duck... and Quacks like a Duck... it still might be a goose on the loose!
Posted by David Graham on January 7, 2011 at 1:40 AM
Beautiful portrait. Isn't that an elegant little goose?
Dave Graham
Estelline, SD
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 7, 2011 at 2:05 AM
Almost certainly an escapee; lots of folks seem to breed captive waterfowl. But very cool.
Posted by Keith Bauer on January 7, 2011 at 9:16 AM
Yep, this guy hangs out at the pond at the zoo. I have no idea where he came from, but it is not uncommon to see there. Not captive, there's nothing there to hold the birds at that pond.
Posted by Sally King on January 7, 2011 at 9:46 AM
I've talked to an employee at the zoo there and this is one of a few critters at the pond that are part of the zoo collection. As you said it is a red-breasted goose. There is also a madarin duck that hangs out there and I think there is one other that is a zoo bird. Most birds at the pond are free flying and come and go as they want. I am not sure how they keep these other guys there but maybe clipped wings.
If the ponds there are like the ponds here, lots of people come to FEED them - and what duck/goose doesn't want a free handout? That is likely what keeps them there.
Sadly, most of the "feeding" is with junky white bread and other crap. We have signs all over at the Baylands preserve here to NOT feed them, but people persist..I often talk to the people about it, but it does no good. at least they could buy some duck food at a pet or feed store, if they insist on feeding - but $1 loaf of day-old white bread is cheaper.
Discussion
11 repliesTaken today in Albuquerque, NM. Thank you in advance!
And it's no wonder he wasn't in my North American Field Guide:
The red-breasted goose nests in Siberia and winters in Eastern Europe. Either this goose is very lost, or it escaped it's enclosure...
Do yo have any photos of its feet? Ducks/Geese that are kept in captivity are supposed to clip the hind toe so if they escape people will know if they are captive birds or wild birds...
If it can be proven this is a wild bird - it would be an excellent find!
Here is a bit from the web on this:
http://www.lelandhayes.com/articles/red_breasted_goose.pdf
Rebecca. I bet the local Audubon Society would have some info on local people who might have a flock and might be missing one. It's pretty unlikely he/she got this far off course from Siberia!
Sandy
Dave Graham
Estelline, SD
Sadly, most of the "feeding" is with junky white bread and other crap. We have signs all over at the Baylands preserve here to NOT feed them, but people persist..I often talk to the people about it, but it does no good. at least they could buy some duck food at a pet or feed store, if they insist on feeding - but $1 loaf of day-old white bread is cheaper.
Sandy