Finnish Focus On...Taiga And Tundra Bean Geese

Have been meaning to write a post on Tundra and Taiga Bean Goose identification for a while now.

Wildfowl are my guilty pleasure. I've always enjoyed looking for them. The escape issue turns a lot of people off them. Grey geese can turn people off further still.

Since moving to Finland, being able to spend long hours in the field watching both types of Bean Goose has been a joy, especially considering how rare they are in Ireland. 

Tundra Bean Geese are the far commoner species to occur here, making them the easier to photograph and so a good place to start.

Tundra Bean Goose



Tundra Bean Goose - careful assessment of structure is most important when identifying bean geese. Whilst there are size differences between the smaller Tundra and larger Taiga, this plays out most obviously in their structure and shape. Both species, rear on, can be extremely difficult to pick apart without the structural clues visible.




The head and bill structure are crucial in Bean Goose identification. This bird above is typical in every respect. Note the isoceles triangle shaped bill, deep based, equally distributed between upper and lower mandible. The head is dome shaped, with an obvious forehead, kinked where it meets the bill.


Tundra Bean Geese - a variety of head and bill shapes. 






A range of Tundra Bean Geese head and bill structures.





Tundra Bean Goose - a typical dinky, cute looking bird. 




Tundra Bean Goose - birds with increased orange on the bill can make it harder to discern the typical grimace look, though it is often still there. 


Tundra Bean Goose - not infrequently you come across birds like this. Long bodied, wedge-headed, no obvious forehead kink, smooth chinned and longer billed than average. 
These are wannabe Taiga. 
The neck is, however, short and thick.
Careful study of the bill reveals a telltale structure. 





Tundra Bean Goose - at the other end of the scale, dinky birds approaching Pink-Footed Goose in appearance.


Tundra Bean Geese - again a range of structures and bill patterns.



Tundra Bean Goose - birds stretching the neck can cause momentary alarm, especially when very orange billed.



Looking closer reveals a typical Tundra bill structure, despite the extensive orange. 


At times, both species of Bean Goose can display varying levels of a white blaze at the bill base. In my experience, Taiga tends to display this more frequently, but there is overlap.


Tundra Bean Goose - a large bodied bird, but otherwise fairly typical.


Tundra Bean Goose - swimming birds can be exceptionally difficult, changing their entire posture on the water. Here the head and bill are typically Tundra.


Tundra Bean Goose - a long billed bird, head on with a stretched neck can relay a false impression of elegance.


Tundra Bean Goose - a classic individual. Dinky, dome, almost block headed, short deep bill with classic ring pattern, obvious chin, short and thick neck.


Tundra Bean Geese - mud covered birds can also take time to ID. Again, assessment of the sum of features will usually settle things.


Tundra Bean Goose - an extreme bird in terms of bill colour, but otherwise a fairly obvious Tundra. I have seen birds which lack any black on the bill.


Tundra Bean Geese - a range of bill and head shapes/ patterns.


Taiga Bean Goose

Taiga Bean Goose is a more swan-like, elegant affair, with a long, slim neck and wedge shaped, swan shaped head. The bill is generally long, and shaped like a right angled triangle. 

The facial expression of Taiga Bean Goose often feels more sculpted, with strong cheek bones and jaw-line, giving them a distinct look.

The grimace effect on the bill is less pronounced or even seemingly absent on some individuals. The bill often feels "snooty", long, tapered and often slightly decurved towards the tip.


Taiga Bean Geese - the head shape of Taiga Bean Goose, whilst often longer and more wedge shaped than Tundra, is often quite angular too, with distinct changes in slope from nape, to crown, to forehead. Tundra so often feels smoother, a more natural rounded skull shape.




Taiga Bean Geese - even when relatively short billed fo Taiga (second from the left) the head shape remains distinct. Note the angle from nape to crown. 





Taiga Bean Goose - Truly classic in all respects. Big swan-like body and long neck. Wedge shaped head, long bill with narrow base to lower mandible, smooth transitions from both forehead and chin to the bill. Eye located up and close to the contour of the head.




Taiga Bean Goose - sometimes they are simply ridiculous looking. This one is extreme in terms of almost complete orange colour on the bill. The lower mandible is barely perceptible, the bill long and right angled triangle in shape.
The neck, fully stretched is incredibly long and slim, the body large, long and swan-like. They don't come easier than this.





Taiga Bean Goose - another typical bird in terms of head and bill structure. Increased levels of orange on the bill seems to be more regular in Taiga than Tundra in my opinion.



Taiga Bean Geese - In my experience Taiga seem more faithful to family groups than Tundra, which seem to wander more freely within flocks, but this may be due to lower numbers of Taiga naturally sticking together when surrounded by their smaller cousins.

The left hand bird here is slightly more Tundra-like in terms of rounded head shape and slightly thicker neck.




Comparisons


Taiga Bean Goose variation


Tundra Bean Goose variation



Taiga vs. Tundra


Taiga vs. Tundra


Taiga vs. Tundra

What to remember

  • Bill shape - is it more isoceles triangle shaped, with a broad base to lower mandible? (Tundra) Or is it long and right angled, with a narrow base to the lower mandible? (Taiga)
  • Neck length and thickness - Short, thick and sturdy? (Tundra) or Long, slim and elegant (Taiga)
  • Head shape - small, domed/rounded with an obvious kink meeting the bill? (Tundra) or long, wedge shaped, with smooth transition into the bill? (Taiga)
  • Body shape - compact and cute/dinky? (Tundra) or large, long and swan-like? (Taiga)
  • Assess and weigh all features, keeping overlap in mind. 
  • It's OK to let birds go - some distant or difficult birds may cause you trouble. Sometimes you just have to leave them in the either/or pile.
  • It's OK to make mistakes - when you start watching Bean geese you will make mistakes. It's nothing to be afraid of. Keep watching, keep working and you will be able to assign them correctly with greater and greater precision. 

Comments

  1. Fantastic. Heavily involved with monitoring the Slamannan Plateau taiga bean geese. This is surely THE tundra v. taiga i.d. article to end all such debates!!

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  2. Thank you for a brilliant article on the separation of Taiga and Tundra Bean geese. I can now go out into the field with a little more confidence in separating these two.

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  3. Thank you for blog
    Does this bird vagrant found on 16 dec 2021 in India a rare visitor looks Tundra bean goose or Taiga bean goose?

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/MNdSmUtFcwTpz6cL6

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    Replies
    1. Can't be entirely sure from one image I'm afraid, especially as I'm not familiar if you're dealing with other subspecies there (this article, obviously, is a European context).

      The bill and head structure strike me as Taiga type.

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    2. Excellent article! Could you help us with this bird, recorded March 2019 and 2020 Czech Republic, please? It was expected to be Taiga, but later doubted by some of the observers.
      The best picture is at https://birds.cz/avif/obsdetail.php?obs_id=8504677
      and also the video year before https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrYR7JYXI84
      Thank you
      Pavel

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    3. That's a tough bird. Are there other photographs of it?

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    4. Thank you Owen! Yes, there are few -I am including several links, but some of the pictures are not a good ones:
      https://birds.cz/avif/obsdetail.php?obs_id=8499780
      https://birds.cz/avif/obsdetail.php?obs_id=8504662
      https://birds.cz/avif/obsdetail.php?obs_id=8506936
      https://birds.cz/avif/obsdetail.php?obs_id=8511349
      Thank you for helping us to solve this puzzle!
      Pavel Brandl

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    5. My gut says big Tundra on it. Definitely one I would like to see in person.

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    6. Thank you Owen - one old mystery bird solved! I have to look for another possible Taiga - they are extremelly scarce in my country now - it is easier to find Leeser white-fronted or Pink-footed here now. Anyway, it was interesting bird and I spent good times with the geese flocks! Seen another strange "Taiga" like bird with almost orange bill on te same location two weeks ago, but sure it was Tundra. I am recommneding your article to all geese enthusiasts in Czech, regards
      Pavel

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    7. Thank you, hope you find it useful.

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    8. Hi Owen. I would like to know your opinion on one goose. This is the goose on the left the pillar: http://www.astronomy-mb.cz/birds/birds/Husa_polni.html
      Maybe the same goose is here: https://birds.cz/avif/obsdetail.php?obs_id=8517119
      Thank you
      Michal

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    9. Hi Michal. Thank you for the comment. A very unusual looking bird. Or birds, as I'm not sure we are dealing with the same thing in each set. Are there more photos?

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    10. Hi Owen.
      Unfortunately, I only have these two pictures of this bird. But I found another individual with a long, slim neck. Clicking on the image will open a new window where you can see it in full resolution.
      http://www.astronomy-mb.cz/birds/birds/Husa_polni.html

      Thank you.
      Michal

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    11. Thanks. The top photo certainly looks interesting, but as I mentioned in the blog, Bean Geese from behind can look odd. Ideally you want to assess in profile. If the two lower shots are same bird, there it doesn't look so long necked. As many images as possible, closer and in profile are what's needed to assess bill and head structure.

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    12. Hi Owen.
      There is one bird on the first five pictures. And in the last two of these five, this goose is in the foreground with a tundra goose.
      Michal

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    13. Hello Owen! I photographed these captive bean geese and now I'm wondering if they all are taiga bean geese? All photos: https://imgur.com/a/AMf7Xie

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  4. Hi Owen. Thanks, very good article. I would like your opinion on the goose in this photo. Do you think Tundra or Taiga? http://birding.hu/images/forum/17/154036.JPG

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately there is only this one picture.

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    2. My gut would go with Tundra, but as I say in the article...best not to try ID rear on, and look at birds in profile. It's a bird that wants to be a Taiga a bit in terms of head and bill shape, but still feels somewhat small, dinky and short necked.

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  5. Hi Owen, A really nice article - thank you! I found a flock of Bean Geese in SE Scotland yesterday (Taiga winter 80Km to the East but Tundra still much more frequent). I initially ID'd them as Taiga, but after reading your article I'm now much less convinced. Any thoughts? Photos here: https://twitter.com/jarrod_hadfield/status/1593999086256291841 (+ head shots and size comparison with pink-feet in thread). Thanks for any help!

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, only saw these comments now. As I responded on Twitter, you are indeed correct. Tundra.

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  6. Hi Owen, one more photo. I want to know your opinion, what species of geese do you think are in the picture? http://www.birding.hu/galeriak/faj.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://birding.hu/megfigyeles/adatlap/782706
      click to the picture, after click to "eredeti méret"

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    2. 2 birds there, both look Tundra to me, though granted the bird on the right is large and orange billed. It's very squat and thick necked however. As always, would rather base opinion on a more in profile bird and a range of pics, but that's my impression.

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    3. I would be grateful if you could give me your opinion on one last photo:
      http://birding.hu/megfigyeles/adatlap/756958

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    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    5. Tundra. Short, thick and non-serpentine neck. Round headed rather than long and wedge headed. Dumpy body. 👍

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    6. Thanks Owen. What makes this bird intriguing is its behaviour and size: it's always associating with a small group of Greylag Geese, not mixing with large groups of Tundra Bean Geese nearby. It has more or less the same size of a Greylag Goose. I agree with your remarks, and I think the bill shape also fits Tundra more.

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    7. More info: https://www.dutchbirding.nl/gallery/detail/28082#r1979945

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  8. Hi Owen I'd be grateful to get your opinion on this Goose in cumbria a couple of weeks ago https://www.birdguides.com/sightings/anser-serrirostris/3832817

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    Replies
    1. Hi Nick, neck looks short even when stretched out, size appears similar to nearby pinks. I would go with Tundra, but as always would like to see more pics, especially in more natural poses.

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