Blue-Phase Ross' Geese and Other Blue-Phase Geese in Western North America

The existence of wild, blue-phase Ross' Geese (Chen rossii) and blue-phase geese intermediate in size and other characteristics between Ross' and Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) was verified by collection. Winter populations of Ross' and Lesser Snow Geese in Califor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Auk 1979-07, Vol.96 (3), p.544-550
Main Authors: McLandress, M. Robert, Ilse Mc Landress
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Feathers
Flocks
Fowling
Geese
Goslings
Head
Hybridity
Immatures
Waterfowl
Wildlife ecology
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Summary:The existence of wild, blue-phase Ross' Geese (Chen rossii) and blue-phase geese intermediate in size and other characteristics between Ross' and Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) was verified by collection. Winter populations of Ross' and Lesser Snow Geese in California contained less than 0.02% blue-phase birds. Of these blue-phase geese, 8% were Ross', 77% were Lesser Snow, and 15% were intermediate in size. Intermediate blue-phase geese are probably the result of hybridization. Blue-phase Ross' Geese could originate from back-crossing of hybrids and/or recurrent mutation. Genes for blue feather color were probably eliminated from ancestral populations of Ross' Geese and may presently be prevented from reestablishment in the gene pool by hunter and/or predator selection.
ISSN:0004-8038
1938-4254