Meet Mr. and Mrs. Ross

[Al Hansen]

These shots were taken on Wednesday, March 14th. Good thing I drove down there then because on St. Partrick's Day when I drove down to BdA NWR, all the geese had left---heading north!

The way this goose is stretched out always reminds me of the scene in the movie, Silence of the Lambs, when Anthony Hopkins does his thing with one of the guards.

A couple of shots with a pair of Ross' coming in.

All of these shots mainly have to do with the Ross' goose. They are very small in comparison with the lesser snow goose. In fact, not much larger than a good sized mallard. I think their white color makes them look bigger, also. Anyway, these little guys nest in northern Canada and their migration south mainly takes them to California however a lot of them have been coming into New Mexico with some going on to the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

One of the easiest identifiers (if you are close to one) for the Ross' goose will be the warts found on the upper mandible. I cropped this shot close to give you a good idea of what they look like.

Of the two types of light geese that we get down here in New Mexico in the winter time, I happen to like the Ross' goose the best.
Al

 

[Luke Berkey]

Great shots! Any idea why they have evolved with those warts? Luke

 

[Doug Bowman]

Nice pics Al.

They are so white its blinding.

 

[Rob Robertson]

Great shots Al. That is the most warts Ive ever seen on a Ross' goose. I like any Waterfowl photos. I also enjoy when You get Quail photos. I would almost move to New Mexico just to see the Quail.

 

[Al Hansen]

Great shots! Any idea why they have evolved with those warts? Luke

Darn good question, Luke. I hope that Clint sees this. If not, I'll contact him. Maybe there are other biologists on this site who might have an answer.

I wonder if the warts play a part in sight recognition?
Al

 

[Al Hansen]

Nice pics Al.

They are so white its blinding.

Hey Doug,
You should be at BdA NWR when there are thousands of them in a tight group.
Al

 

[Al Hansen]

Great shots Al. That is the most warts Ive ever seen on a Ross' goose. I like any Waterfowl photos. I also enjoy when You get Quail photos. I would almost move to New Mexico just to see the Quail.

Maybe these will entice you to "come on down"-----
Al

 

[Clint]

The warts are a visual signal. The more warts, the more dominant a bird is.

Clint

 

[Carl]

I was going to comment that it was probably a breeding season/sex related thing.
Just about anytime in the animal kingdom there is some feature that seems unusual or doesnt make a lot of sense, it has to do with sexual selection!
Birds seem to take it to extremes. Just look at the colors of drake ducks, the plumage on peacocks and the rituals of bower birds. All to attract the attention of more females.

Cool pics Al. One day I am going to get back out to TX to hunt snows again.

 

[Andrew L.]

Very interesting. I to love the Ross goose Al. In fact it is the one I decided to mount after my first snow goose trip to Arkansas. Never knew the wart thing was dominance. The one I shot was ten years old and didn't have a single wart.

 

[Luke Berkey]

Thanks for the info. Always something to learn.

 

[Al Hansen]

The warts are a visual signal. The more warts, the more dominant a bird is.

Clint

Thanks so much for that comment, Clint. I sure appreciated your input.
Al

 

[Al Hansen]

I was going to comment that it was probably a breeding season/sex related thing.
Just about anytime in the animal kingdom there is some feature that seems unusual or doesnt make a lot of sense, it has to do with sexual selection!
Birds seem to take it to extremes. Just look at the colors of drake ducks, the plumage on peacocks and the rituals of bower birds. All to attract the attention of more females.

Cool pics Al. One day I am going to get back out to TX to hunt snows again.

You are so right, Carl. I hope that day will be just around the corner for you when you head back to Texas for that hunt.
Al

 

[Al Hansen]

Very interesting. I to love the Ross goose Al. In fact it is the one I decided to mount after my first snow goose trip to Arkansas. Never knew the wart thing was dominance. The one I shot was ten years old and didn't have a single wart.

Just think, Andrew, that some day you will be on a hunt when you take another good looking Ross but this one will be loaded with warts. Who knows but you might have that one mounted also.
Al