. Birds of Massachusetts and other New England states. Birds; Birds. GEESE 301. Head of Barnacle Goose About a natural size. Branta leucopsis (Bechstein). Barnacle Goose. Description. — Tail usually of 16 feathers; female slightly duller in color than male. Adults: Front and sides of head, chin and throat cream white; broad dark stripe from base of bill to eye; rest of head and neck black, the black extending on upper back and fore breast; scapulars, wing-coverts and inner secondaries bluish-gray, feathers with subterminal black crescentic bands and tipped white, giving a barred effect; flight
. Birds of Massachusetts and other New England states. Birds; Birds. GEESE 301. Head of Barnacle Goose About a natural size. Branta leucopsis (Bechstein). Barnacle Goose. Description. — Tail usually of 16 feathers; female slightly duller in color than male. Adults: Front and sides of head, chin and throat cream white; broad dark stripe from base of bill to eye; rest of head and neck black, the black extending on upper back and fore breast; scapulars, wing-coverts and inner secondaries bluish-gray, feathers with subterminal black crescentic bands and tipped white, giving a barred effect; flight-feathers blackish, darkening toward ends, a trifle ashy on exposed surfaces; middle part of rump and tail black; upper and under tail-coverts, sides of rump, belly and lower breast light grayish or whitish, sides and flanks shaded gray; axillars and wing-linings "ashy- gray," latter partly tipped white; iris hazel; bill, legs and feet black. Young: Similar to adults but black areas browner, and white face speckled with black; gen- eral plumage washed reddish-brown, more or less marked, according to age. Measurements. — Length to in.; spread to ; folded wing about ; tail about ; bill about ; tarsus about ; very variable. Weight 2 lbs. 8 oz. to 5 lbs. Female averages much smaller than male. Molts. — Most juvenal body feathers are molted in autumn and winter, and after a complete post- nuptial molt in the succeeding autumn young birds apparently become as adult; adult molts completely (July to December) and may have a partial spring molt. Field Marks. — "Boldly contrasting black and white plumage"; white face and forehead with wide black line from bill to eye; top of head and entire neck black; black legs, feet and bill. Voice. — A cackling note (C. F. R. Jourdain). Breeding. — On rocky hillsides or cliffs, in rock caves or on a rocky pinnacle. Nest: Usually on a projecting rock; a mound lined with white or l
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Keywords: ., bookauthorforb, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds
