Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Tempe ASU Research Park, Maricopa County

These Greater White-fronted Geese were discovered and photographed by Pierre Deviche on 04 June 2009.  One is an immature and the other an adult. 

There are a couple of other records of Greater White-fronted Geese summering in urban parks in Southern Arizona, but they are nevertheless extremely rare at this season.  It is hard to assess the origin of these birds. They were rather tame, as is often the case of urban (wild or not) geese. At least the adult has BOTH halluces. As well, the two birds were seen flying around a pond and showed no sign of wing feather damage/clipping. This is a the same location where another arctic breeding goose species, a Ross's Goose, summered last year. 

04 June 2009, photo by Pierre Deviche