Bean Goose

Anser fabalis fabalis (Latham, 1787)

2012-10-26 Sorbulak lake, Almaty region	© Vassiliy Fedorenko

Description

Very variable race. The lower mandible varies in thick and curved. Males' bill size: length 52-67 (61 av), height 26.4-34.5 (30.3), height of the lower mandible 6-10 (7.8) mm. Scapulars and wing coverts are darker, brown, with a slightly of grey colour. The colour of bill-strip and legs is more often yellow-orange, rare pinkish or reddish. Males' wing length 430-480 (450) mm.

Distribution

Occurs on migration throughout in Kazakhstan. Sometimes wintering in southern Kazakhstan, on Sorbulak lake (34 birds at 6 November-12 December 2004; more tan 100 birds in 2012-2013), on Kapchagay reservoir (December 2002); one bird recorded on Chardara reservoir (18-21 December 2003). Also winters on Issyk-Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.