[obol] Re: Cackling Goose (hybrid)
- From: "Wayne Hoffman" <whoffman@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>, <nelsnelson7@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2014 19:26:02 -0700
Hi –
I agree with Dave (and with Steve McDonald) that this is a leucistic Cackling
Goose.
I do have some thoughts on the question Dave posed, “Why it is so often
restricted to the head and neck is another question.”
I have seen several white-cheeked geese that had leucistic body plumage but
normal head and neck color and pattern. One in particular I remember from
several years ago was with Dusky Canada Geese that frequented the first pasture
on the north side of the Little Nestucca River just west of Hwy 101. It was
the same size and shape as the Duskies but had almost silvery body plumage.
Anyway, my thought is that the genetic control of melanin (black pigment)
deposition into head and neck feathers is separate enough from the control of
pigment deposition into the body plumage. The latter pigment is likely a
variant of melanin (possibly phaeomelanin?) but is not black. It would be
interesting to see whether other birds that have both full black, and
browns/grays in their plumage have leucistic individuals with both affected.
Wayne
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
David Irons
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 8:53 AM
To: nelsnelson7@xxxxxxxxx
Cc: OBOL
Subject: [obol] Re: Cackling Goose (hybrid)
Nel's,
This is not a hybrid, merely a Cackling Goose that is partially leucistic.
Birds showing this sort of plumage anomaly are pretty common in white-cheeked
geese. Why it is so often restricted to the head and neck is another question.
Dave Irons
Portland,OR
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 2, 2014, at 7:10 AM, "Nels Nelson" <nelsnelson7@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/101538169@N05/sets/72157643309077104/
Phil Kahler and I found an interesting (actually, quite beautiful) Cackling
Goose (hybrid?) late yesterday PM at Commonwealth Lake Park in Beaverton. Any
thoughts as to it's parentage?
Nels Nelson
Hillsboro
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