Branta hutchinsii, Cackling goose

This is the first observation and photos we have of cackling geese at  Race Rocks. Ecoguardian Raisa Mirza  took this photo on October 22, 2010. These geese migrate south through the area at this time of year. This is a newly recognized and smaller species of the Canada Goose. Recent work on mitochondrial DNA genetic differences found the four smallest forms to be very different. These four races are now recognized as a full species: the Cackling Goose. It breeds farther northward and westward than does the Canada Goose..Fall migration includes staging on the upper Alaska Peninsula for several weeks, then a trans-oceanic flight to Oregon and California.

This tag will bring up other examples of observations of this species at Race Rocks.