Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis x Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus hybrid

The identification of this bird is uncertain but there seem to be two contenders: Barnacle Goose x Lesser White-fronted Goose or Cackling Goose x Lesser White-fronted Goose. It was a tiny bird and I favour the former as the most likely solution - the bird differed from Barnacle x White-fronted Goose hybrids mainly in having a shorter, stubbier bill and in its very tiny size.

probable Barnacle Goose x Lesser White-fronted Goose hybrid, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 27th October 2007

For comparison, here are photos of the parent species.

Barnacle Goose, south of Brancaster (Norfolk, UK), 30th October 2007 and captive Lesser White-fronted Goose, Martin Mere (Lancashire, UK), 26th December 2014

For more photos of these species follow the links below:

• Barnacle Goose
• Lesser White-fronted Goose