Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii), Snowflake, Navajo County

These Cackling Geese were found by John Wilson on 12 January and photographed by Eric Hough on 20 January 2019

Cackling Goose is a rare winter visitor to Arizona. This is the first record for Navajo County.

Cackling Geese are separated from Canada Geese by smaller size, shorter neck, and proportionately shorter bill with a steeper forehead. The exceptionally short neck and stubby bill combined with dark breasts suggest these are of the minima subspecies.

20 January 2019, photo by Eric Hough

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