230 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Hutchins Goose 



Branta canadensis hutchinsi (Richardson) 



Othee names — Gray Goose, part; Brant; Lesser Canada Goose; Medium- 

 sized Honker; Little Honker; Anser hutehinsi; Bernicla hutchinsi. 



Description — Adults, both sexes: Practically the same as Canada Goose but 

 size smaller. Under surface usually darker, varying from pale gray to dark 

 brown; a black line down throat separating white cheek patches, and a narrow 

 white collar at base of black neck may or may not be present. Total length 

 (both sexes) "about 25.00-34.00" inches (635-863 mm.) (Bidgway, 1900, p. 

 117). Males: folded wing 15.36-17.93 (390-455); bill along eulmen 1.37-1.80 

 (34.8-45.7); tarsus 2.68-3.40 (68.0-86.3) (ten specimens). Females: folded 

 ■wing 15.25-16.60 (387-422); bill along eulmen 1.46-1.58 (37.1-40.2); tarsus 

 2.78-3.00 (70.5-76.2) (six specimens) ; all from California. Juvenile and natal 

 plumages: Not known to differ from those of Canada Goose. 



Marks for field identification — Similar to those for Canada Goose but 

 size slightly smaller: total length 25 to 34 inches (635-863 mm.), weight 3 to 4 

 pounds (1360 to 1812 gm.). On close examination the coloration is seen to be 

 darker, the middle toe with claw about equals the tarsus in length, and the bill 

 measures 1.37-1.80 inches (34.8-45.7 mm.) (compare figs. 32-37). 



Voice — Closely resembles that of Canada Goose but not so deep and 

 sonorous; said to be distinguishable by experienced persons. 



Nest — On ground near water; composed of weeds, grasses or reeds, and 

 profusely lined with down. 



Eggs — 4 to 6, in shape ovate to elongate ovate, measuring in inches, 2.84-3.27 

 by 2.05 to 2.21 (in millimeters, 72.0 to 83.0 by 52.0 to 56.0), and averaging 3.12 by 

 2.10 (79.0 by 53.5) (fifty-six eggs in U. S. National Museum); color white 

 (Davie, 1889, p. 81). 



General distribution — Western North America. Breeds in far north, west 

 in Alaska to Kowak Valley, and east along Arctic shores and islands to Hudson 

 Bay. Winters from British Columbia, Nevada, Colorado, and Missouri south 

 to Lower California, Texas and Louisiana; in migration rare east of Mississippi 

 Valley, although recorded on Atlantic coast from Maine to Virginia (A. 0. U. 

 Check-list, 1910, p. 86). 



Distribution in California — Common winter visitant to suitable localities 

 throughout the state. Most plentiful in the Sacramento and San Joaquin 

 valleys. Recorded east to Owens and Death valleys (A. K. Fisher, 1893a, p. 19) 

 and south to San Diego (Heermann, 1859, p. 67). 



Three varieties of Canada or " white-eheeked " geese are found 

 in California during the winter months and of these the Hutchins 

 or Medium-sized Honker is the most abundant. It arrives from the 

 north about the second week in October and departs about the third 

 week in April. The earliest fall record is for Gridley, Butte County, 

 where the species was seen on October 9, 1884, and the latest spring 

 occurrence, April 26, 1896, is for the same locality (Belding, MS). 

 In Alaska, in the Kowak Valley, the first Hutchins Goose in the spring 

 was seen on May 14, 1899, while the last in the fall of 1898, was 

 observed on September 14 (Grinnell, 1900, p. 18). The species is 



