I have checked the Collins guide for a list of full geese species and come up with the following . . . .
Greater White-fronted Goose,
Lesser White-fronted Goose,
Bean Goose,
Pink Footed Goose,
Greylag Goose,
Canada Goose,
Barnacle Goose,
Brent Goose,
Red-breasted Goose,
Common Shelduck,
Ruddy Shelduck,
Egyptian Goose,
Bar-headed Goose.
. . . . . . I am wondering if some have been split into separate full species since the book's publication. I have come across European and Greenland White Fronted Geese in various texts, have these been split? What about any others I have missed? I am not really concerned with any that may not occur in the UK.
No official splits by the BOU to date Andrew, though the most likely future splits concern the subspecies of White-fronted Geese (which you mention), Bean Geese (Taiga and Tundra races) and perhaps Brent Goose.
It is concievable that Canada Goose may be split in the future and some of the small subspecies which may become one or more new species have occured in the Uk as vagrants (and escapes!).
Spud
Hi Andrew,
Agreed with Spud, but also to add that Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck and Egyptian Goose are not true geese (tribe Anserini), but shelducks (tribe Tadornini).
One more full species you missed off: Snow Goose.
Also, Bar-headed Goose is not wild in Britain, only an escape from captivity. Some other geese escape as well, notably Ross's Goose (a few people think some of these might occur as genuine vagrants) and Swan Goose (a.k.a. Chinese Goose; usually as domesticated forms). Occasional UK reports of escaped Hawaiian Goose and Emperor Goose then completes the world goose list.
Michael