Hi Carl,

Thanks, I was able to read your notes on your ebird checklist for this goose.  However, I believe this is neither a hybrid nor even a backcross.  I spent over 20 minutes observing this bird upclose. While I noticed the "grinning" patch like you did, it turned out to be mud.  When the goose was dabbling in the mud it would line where the upper and lower mandibles meet creating that effect.  Then the goose would swish its bill in the water and it would clean it off.  The overall size and bill size seemed consistent with a Ross's.  With all due respect, there was nothing about this goose that led me to believe it was anything other than a Ross's Goose.
Here is a link to the photos I took of this bird:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/procana/albums/72157662656527282

Respectfully,
Mike H.

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