Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii), Arrowhead Lakes, Maricopa County

This Cackling Goose was discovered by Tommy DeBardeleben and Geoff Butcher at Thunderbird Viewing Blinds Park at Arrowhead Lake on 17 January 2014 and was photographed by Tommy DeBardeleben that day and again on 22 January 2014.

Seemly a rare but annual winter visitor to Arizona, although identification challenges make its true status unknown.

Much smaller than the surrounding Canada Geese. Steep forehead and small, stubby bill.  Although the first set of photos were difficult to judge as to the subspecies of this bird, the second set clearly show that this is an Aleutian Cackling Goose (B. h. leucopareia).  In particular the dark breast and large, complete white neck ring are apparent in these photos.  Aleutian Cackling Goose is probably the rarest of four Cackling Goose subspecies in Arizona but there is still much to learn about his species. 

This set of photos illustrate the difficulty of judging waterfowl structural and even color features from a small number of photos. 

22 January 2014, photo by Tommy DeBardeleben

17 January 2014, photo by Tommy DeBardeleben

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