CACKLING GOOSE Branta hutchinsii

Several years ago the many subspecies of Canada Goose were split in to two main groups, and the term "Lesser" was dropped in favour of Cackling, since the original "Lesser" was in fact parvipes, which is now a Canada Goose. Most Cackling Geese, which breed from the Kurils to Greenland, are smaller, in some cases very much so, and tend to have a different head and bill shape. A not infrequent visitor to the UK, usually Scotland, but has been recorded in Norfolk. The birds here are taken in captivity, the left hand bird is probably taverneri and the centre minima, which is the smallest race. The right hand bird, which is feral, is rather large and may be a hybrid.

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