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Ross's Goose


Ross's Goose
Photo Information
Copyright: PETER TAMAS (sirianul) Silver Note Writer [C: 0 W: 0 N: 509] (3544)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-11-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-11-03 17:02
Viewed: 2143
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mystery bird: Ross's goose, Anser rossii

This lovely North American mystery bird shares a special trait with just two other avian species, one extinct and the other unrelated
This diminutive goose is an adult Ross's goose, Anser rossii, which is placed into Anatidae -- swans, geese and ducks. Based on plumage colouring, some authorities, including the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU), place this species (along with two other North American species) into the genus Chen whilst most other authorities, including avibase, instead classify this species into Anser. In fact, Chen are indistinguishable from Anser although DNA data do suggest that the three "white" goose species diverged recently.

Ross's goose is tiny, only slightly larger than a mallard. This goose is all white with black primaries, a small pink bill and pink legs and feet. It is distinguished from its close relative, the snow goose, A. caerulescens, by the Ross's goose's much smaller size (40-50% smaller), its much smaller bill which lacks the snow goose's greenish bill base, black "lips" along the bill's edge, and by the lack of the curved "smile" that the snow goose bill shows. The snow goose also has a longer head than the more petite Ross's goose.

Ross's goose breeds in the Arctic and winters primarily in central California.

Ross's goose shares a special trait with just two other species in the world; one species is unrelated to it whilst the other is extinct. The Ross's goose is an endemic Canadian breeding species, a trait it shares with its distant relative, the extinct Labrador duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius.
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Critiques [Translate]

Lovely point of view and good balance between highlights and shadows I think Peter!
Regards,
George Veltchev

great capture of pretty goose, with great eye contact
thanks for sharing Peter.
best wishes
Ahmet

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