5 replies to this topic

[syncrasy]

After seeing Liam's posts on geese, I'm realizing that I don't know much about domestic geese varieties; I knew about domestic Graylag and Chinese Geese, but had never heard of Pilgrim, Cotton Patch, Shetland, etc., before.

So Liam, these are for you...

1. Are any or all U.S. domestic geese descendants of (or related to) either Graylag Goose (Anser anser) or Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides)?

2. Which variety (or varieties) of geese are in this group that lives in a park in w. North Carolina?



Photo 1



Photo 2



Photo 3



Photo 4



Photo 5



Photo 6

[Liam]

All domestic Geese (with the exception of exotics) will be either domestic forms of Swan or Greylag Goose.

Often times with domestic or feral birds, particularly in public parks, breeds are very hard to trace. This is because the owners don't really care what breeds they have or what the offspring will be, as long as the birds look nice in their park (if the park owners were the ones who put them there).

I don't know a whole bunch about goose breeds, I'm definitely not an expert, but I'll give it a shot.

In photos 2 and 4, I suspect you have Embdens, they're all white with blue eyes.

Photo 3 shows a Chinese x Greylag hybrid - blue eyes and ragged neck feathers are indicative of Greylag genes, but the two-toned coloration, white-fronted face, and high bill plate all suggest Chinese.

Photo 5, probably a mutt, Cotton Patch is a possibility, but apparently they're not very common. Toulouse/Embden mix is likely, since they are two popular breeds.

Photo 6 shows some Saddleback patterning, but probably also a mutt.

Hope this helps.

[syncrasy]

Thanks, Liam. This at least gives me some leads for further research.

It never would have occurred to me that any of these geese could have Chinese genes (since there isn't much of a knob). Interesting.

I'm curious about your comment about ragged neck feathers being indicative of Greylag genes. Seems like of all these geese have ragged neck feathers. (And Snow Goose also has ragged/rippled neck feathers.) Is there something specific about the raggedness of the feathers in photo 3?

[JimBob]

I just want to state, that photo 4 is very pretty! The eye color is just wonderfully contrasted with the white.

[Liam]

It is true most geese have at least some extent of a ripple patterning on the neck, but it's most prevalent on Greylags. In domestic/feral birds, Greylag and Swan are usually the only geese you will have (besides Canada x domestic hybrids). The reason I brought up the ragged neck patterning is because Chinese Geese don't show that, pointing away from pure Chinese and suggesting domestic Greylag heritage.

Not all domestic Swan Geese (African/Chinese) have conspicuous knobs on the forehead plate, and with hybrids the knob is absent.

[syncrasy]

Thanks, Liam, for the clarification. I understand now.

Yes, JimBob, those "ocean blue" eyes (as I saw them described on a goose website) are quite something.