Article posted: 2/6/2013 12:33 PM

One bird in a flock may not be like the others

Buy this photo Buy this photo
next prev 1 of 2
   
Gallery Image

Cackling geese often go undetected when mingling with hundreds of Canada geese. They are a separate species and much smaller than Canadas.

Courtesy of Nathan Goldberg

This rare barnacle goose visited Will County in late 2012, but picking it out from the many Canada geese required a careful eye.

Courtesy of Mark Bowman

About this Article

When our Jeff Reiter started counting a flock of mallards, he discovered an impostor - a black duck - among the fowl. Experienced birders know to expect the unexpected, and Reiter says that's a smart approach if you want to see new birds. "There might be an uncommon species, or even a mega-rarity in our midst, but it takes a careful and patient observer to detect it."
prev next
    • Cackling geese often go undetected when mingling with hundreds of Canada geese. They are a separate species and much smaller than Canadas.
    • This rare barnacle goose visited Will County in late 2012, but picking it out from the many Canada geese required a careful eye.
    Galleries by Category

    Latest Galleries

      next prev