Branta hutchinsii leucopareia

While birding through the Arcata Bottoms this morning I came upon an impressive flock (400+ birds) of Aleutian Cackling Geese. Around this time of year, waterfowl begin arriving en masse to overwinter along the coast of Humboldt County.

The several Cackling Geese subspecies were once lumped in with the ubiquitous Canada Goose, but have since been separated as their own species. The Aleutian is a relatively small subspecies, and apart from its size it is most readily distinguished by its white necklace.