Bean Geese (2) - some from Shetland

These pictures were sent by Roger Riddington from the UK. They were made between November 29th and December the 4th on Bigton, Shetland. Grabbed from a flock of up to 20 birds.

What should it be? Rossicus or fabalis? I got reactions from some Dutch birders. Experienced Bean geese-watchers PieterGeert Gelderblom and Lützen Portengen answered with: 100% fabalis. Also did Arnoud B. van den Berg. Others have doubts. In my opinion, it are Taiga Beans obviously. I have added some comments below the pictures.

Taiga Bean Goose - Note the slender shape of the birds. Though it is hard to judge their size beacause there is no other species in this picture, I focus on shape, head profile and bill. I see high, pronounced breasts, more typical for Taiga due to their long necks. Also note the head profile: the forehead is flat and converging into a rather concave culmen. The lower mandibles are flat and I can hardly see any grimace in the beaks. The bills are quite long and rather orange. From left to rigt: type C, D, B and A.

Pair of Taiga Beans. Note the low base of the upper mandible, which forms the more 'duck-like' bill.

Some Tundra Beans can show such a yellow bill. The flat lower mandible is a good feature of Taiga Bean.

Type B or C (cf Burgers et al 1991). This type of bill is quite common. Note the concave upper mandible.

Based on the unmoulted coverts and the bill colouration, this must be a couple of juveniles. Young birds can be seperated from adults by their bills, which aren't fully grown and have a more vague colouration.

A family of two juveniles and an adult (in front). Note the pronounced breasts/necks an the typical crinckle in the slender neck of the adult. The jizz of this bird is very distinct for Taiga.

Not the clear cut. Pictures like this one can cause a lot of dicussion. The relationships between these birds are unclear. What is their size, relationship et cetera et cetera? Judging the height of the 'grinning patch' or grimace in their bills, this must be Taiga Beans. Ruokonen et al (2008) found that one of the best indications for Taiga.