[cobirds] Re: Blue Morph Ross's Goose at Monte Vista NWR

Nicholas Komar had some feedback on Facebook about the identity of this bird:

Interesting goose. The black tail, all white neck and head, and curved base of the bill are all wrong for Ross's goose. This is most likely a hybrid between Ross's goose and Richardson's cackling goose. These hybrids are actually more common in Colorado than dark phase Ross's goose, which is indeed very rare.

This being a hybrid makes sense to me, but I'm no expert. What do others think?

On Monday, March 14, 2016 at 11:23:40 AM UTC-6, Taylor Long wrote:

Yesterday morning (3/13) while admiring the multitudes of Sandhill Cranes at Monte Vista NWR, I came across what I believe is a "blue" morph of a Ross's Goose in my scope. I'm curious what this group thinks. Are these unusual?

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8lf5c9vsd1mz0u/2016-03-13_Blue_Morph_Rosss_Goose.jpg?raw=1

-Taylor Long

Denver, CO

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