Emperor Goose

Table

Emperor Goose – Accepted
1. winter 1884	*	Humboldt Bay HUM	2004-500	9,30	specimen lost
2. 01 Nov 1895	*	vic. Gridley BUT	2004-501	9,30	specimen lost
3. ? Dec 1906	*	Davis YOL	2004-502	9,30	specimen lost
4. 03 Nov 1910	*	Rio Vista SOL	2004-503	9,30	specimen lost
5. ? Nov 1912	HY	Colusa COL	2004-504	9,30,31	ph., MVZ 24508
6. ? Dec 1912	*	Ingomar MER	2004-505	9,30	specimen lost
7. 15 Nov 1913	*	10 mi. w Modesto STA	2004-506	9,30	specimen lost
8. late Oct 1915	*	vic. Gridley BUT	2004-507	9,30	specimen lost
9. fall 1916	*	Norman GLE	2004-508	9,30	specimen lost
10. ca. 1921	HY or SY	Rio Vista SOL	2004-509	9,30,31	ph., MVZ 59137
11. 01 Mar 1925		Humboldt Bay HUM	2004-510	9,30,31	ph., MVZ 52036
12. 26 Apr 1925	*	Humboldt Bay HUM	2004-511	9,30	specimen lost
13. 03 Dec 1927	HY	Humboldt Bay HUM	2004-512	9,30,31	ph., MVZ 57187
14-15. 06 Dec 1927	*	Humboldt Bay HUM	2004-513	9,30	specimens lost
16. 11 Dec 1927		Eureka HUM	1986-315	14	CMEHS 538
17. 13 Dec 1928	HY	Limantour MRN	2004-514	9,30,31	ph., CAS 43715
18. 20 Jan 1930		Pit R., vic. McArthur SHA	2004-515	9,30,31	ph., MVZ 54483
19. 02 Nov 1932	*	Willows GLE	2004-516	9,30	specimen lost
20. 20 Dec 1932		Willows GLE	2004-518	9,30,31	ph., MVZ 63663, incorrect date in Grinnell & Miller (1944)
21. 27 Jan 1933	SY	Humboldt Bay HUM	2004-517	9,30,31	ph., MVZ 71275
22-23. 01 Dec 1935	2	Gustine MER	1986-278	14	ph., specimens at Gustine Gun Club
24. 10 Nov 1936	HY	Tule Lake NWR SIS	1988-127	14	USNM 588105
25. 29 Nov 1937	AHY	Tule Lake NWR SIS	1988-128	14	USNM 588106
26. 20 Oct 1945		Big Lagoon HUM	1986-314	14	HSU 40
27. 28 Dec 1945–11 Jan 1946		Carmel/Pebble Beach MTY	1984-110	9
28-31. 10 Dec 1948–08 Feb 1949	4	Pacific Grove/Carmel MTY	1985-063	10
32-33. 13 Dec 1949–04 May 1950	2	Carmel MTY	1985-065	10
34. 12 Dec 1951	AHY	n Humboldt Bay HUM	1986-316	14	HSU 2219, one of two reported
35-36. 09 Jan–19 Mar 1956	2	Santa Cruz SCZ	1992-176	16	ph.
37. 11–27 Nov 1960		Sacramento NWR GLE	1986-093	11
38. 08–20 Nov 1961	HY	Elk R. HUM	1992-112	16	ph.
39-40. 12 Dec 1966–12 Feb 1967	≤2	Morro Bay SLO	1986-060	10
41. ? Dec 1968		Crescent City DN	1986-279	14	ph.
42. 15 Dec 1968		Laguna Beach ORA	1988-010	14
43-47. 15 Dec 1968–08 Mar 1969	≤5	Seal Beach ORA	1986-056	10	ph.
48. 15 Oct 1972	HY	vic. Chico BUT	1977-042	4	ph., WB 9:137
49. 11 Nov 1972–03 Jan 1973	HY	Eureka HUM	1977-023	4
50. 14 Nov 1972–03 Jan 1973	HY	s spit Humboldt Bay HUM	1977-043	4
51. 15 Nov 1976		Tule Lake NWR SIS	1986-017	14	HSU 3789
52. 08–14 Oct 1977	HY	Lower Klamath NWR SIS	1978-001	4
53. 19 Dec 1977–22 Apr 1978	AHY	Moss Landing MTY/Pajaro R. SCZ	1978-085	5	ph., WB 9:138, Roberson (1980, 2002)
54-56. 28 Dec 1977–22 Apr 1978	3 AHY	Limantour MRN	1978-029	4	ph., AB 32:395, Roberson (1978)
57. 22 Apr 1978	AHY	Limantour MRN	1978-029	4
58. 01 Jan–20 Feb 1978		Pt. Mugu VEN	1980-048	7	ph.
59. 27–28 Oct 1978	HY	Lower Klamath NWR SIS	1979-075	5
60. 28–29 Oct 1979		Lower Klamath NWR SIS	1984-257	10
61. 01–28 Nov 1981	HY	Tule Lake NWR SIS	1986-295	12
62. 09 Jan–19 Feb 1982	SY	Smith R. bottoms DN	1986-209	12
63. 05 Nov 1983	HY	vic. Dorris SIS	1987-390	14	TLNWR life mount, Roberson (1993)
64. 13 Jan–25 Feb 1984		Hunter Rock/Prince I. DN	1987-079	12
65. 19 Oct 1986–14 Feb 1987	HY	Tule Lake NWR SIS 1987-051/1987-086	14,16
66. 06–13 Nov 1987	HY	Tule Lake NWR MOD	1988-001	13
67. 19 Dec 1987–17 Apr 1988		Oakland/Alameda ALA	1987-398	13	AB 42:560
68-69. 25 Jan–25 Mar 1991	2 SY	Southeast Farallon I. SF	1991-055	16	ph.
70. 11 Feb–09 Mar 1991		Pt. Reyes MRN	1991-047	16
71. 05–11 Dec 1994	AHY	n Humboldt Bay HUM	1996-002	21	ph., privately held specimen
72. 13 Dec 1994	AHY	Arcata bottoms HUM	1996-003	21	ph., privately held specimen
73. 19 Dec 1994–06 Jun 1995	HY	Bodega SON	1995-005	20	ph.
74. 12 Dec 1996–30 Apr 1997	HY	Bodega Harbor SON	1996-146	22	Fig. 6, ph., video
75. 28 Dec 1996–24 Feb 1997		Garcia R. Flats MEN	1997-091	24	ph.
76-77. 20 Dec 2001–20 Jan 2002	2	Klamath DN	2002-008	27	ph.
78. 23 Dec 2001–21 Apr 2002		Bodega Harbor SON	2002-004	27	ph.
79. 25 Dec 2001–04 Mar 2002		Southeast Farallon I. SF	2002-010	27	ph.
80. 07 Jan–28 Mar 2002		Arcata bottoms HUM	2002-035	28
81. 16 Jan–06 Mar 2002		Bechers Bay, Santa Rosa I. SBA	2002-048	28	ph.
Emperor Goose – Accepted (continued)
82. 29 Sep–07 Nov 2002	HY	Rodman Slough LAK	2002-190	28	ph.
83. 29 Dec 2002–07 Jan 2003	AHY	Moss Landing MTY	2003-047	29	Fig. 192, ph., NAB 57:287

Emperor Goose – Not accepted, identification not established
14 Feb 1957		Staten I. SJ	1984-231	14
14–29 Dec 1968	2	Limantour MRN	1989-094	14,17,30
07–19 Sep 1969	≤11	Goose Lake MOD	1989-141	14
30 Dec 1972		Humboldt Bay HUM	2004-562	30
15 Mar 1981		Lower Klamath NWR SIS	1986-237	14	ph., apparent hybrid Emperor ×
					Greater White-fronted Goose
16 Dec 1989		San Diego SD	2004-563	17,30	Ross’s Goose; cf. AB 44:987
08 Dec 1990		Colusa NWR COL	1991-005	16
21 Oct–11 Nov 1991		Tule Lake NWR SIS	1991-198	17

Emperor Goose – Not submitted
undated	3	Dixon SOL		9	“3 killed” per Grinnell & Miller (1944)
23 Dec 1920		HUM		14
mid-Feb 1925	6	Eureka HUM		14	Harris (1991), see table entries 11-12
? 1932		Klamath Basin SIS		14	Wilbur & Yocom (1971)
21 Nov 1940		Gridley BUT		14	Neff (1948)
27 Nov 1941		Sacramento NWR GLE		14
08 Dec 1941–? 1942	4	Tule Lake NWR SIS		14	Wilbur & Yocom (1971)
03 Dec 1942		Humboldt Bay HUM		14	Davis (1946), shot
01–27 Feb 1947	3–6	Humboldt Bay HUM		14	Talmadge (1947), some shot
26 Oct 1947		Bay Bridge toll plaza ALA		14	Fisher (1948)
18 Dec 1948		Tomales Bay MRN		14
ca. 1950		Moss Landing MTY			PGMNH life mount, Roberson (2002)
02 Dec 1951		Cayucos SLO		14	Marantz (1986)
12 Dec 1951		n Humboldt Bay HUM		14	Yocom & Harris (1975), see table entry 34
18 Apr 1955		Tule Lake NWR SIS		14
? Oct 1955		Lower Klamath NWR SIS		14
31 Dec 1957–04 Jan 1958	≤5	Crescent City DN		14
? Nov 1958		Lower Klamath NWR SIS		14	Wilbur & Yocom (1971)
13 Apr 1960		Pescadero SM		14	AFN 14:417
21 Oct 1961		Lower Klamath NWR SIS		14
? 1962		Klamath Basin SIS		14	Wilbur & Yocom (1971)
19 Apr 1964		Aptos SCZ		14	AFN 18:483
? Nov 1964	25	Klamath Basin SIS		14	Wilbur & Yocom (1971), 2 shot
06 Feb 1965		Woodland YOL		14	AFN 19:412
? Nov 1965	9	Klamath Basin SIS		14	Wilbur & Yocom (1971)
? Dec 1965		Colusa NWR COL			AFN 20:454
? 1966	2+	Klamath Basin SIS		14	Wilbur & Yocom (1971)
07 Dec 1966	3	Limantour MRN		14	AFN 21:453
12 Dec 1966		Avila Beach SLO		14	AFN 21:457
10 Dec 1967	2	Eel R. delta HUM		14	one shot
18–31 Dec 1967		Crescent City DN		14
27–31 Dec 1967		Limantour MRN		14	AFN 22:473
04 Jan 1968	2	Lake Earl DN		14
07 Dec 1968		Eel R. delta HUM		14
16 Dec 1968		Morro Bay SLO		14	Marantz (1986)
18–30 Dec 1968		San Simeon SLO		14	AFN 23:520, Garrett & Dunn (1981),
					Marantz (1986)
11 Oct 1969	5	Tule Lake NWR SIS		14
10 Oct 1971		Tule Lake NWR SIS		14
11 Nov 1972		Big Lagoon HUM		14	AB 27:114, shot
05 Nov 1973		Tule Lake NWR SIS		14
15 Dec 1977		Pismo Beach SLO		14	Marantz (1986)
23 Dec 1977		Humboldt Bay HUM		14
03–12 Apr 1978		Bodega Harbor SON			Parmeter (2000)
“first week” Jan 1982	7+	DN/HUM		14	AB 36:326, includes three reportedly
					shot at Big Lagoon HUM, 03–04 Jan 1982; no CBRC review in 1982
20 Oct 1982		Lower Klamath NWR SIS		14	AB 37:219, shot; no CBRC review in 1982
18 Dec 1994		DN			FN 49:796
27 Dec 1994–late Feb 1995	2	Crescent City DN			Harris (2006)
06 Dec 1996		MacKerricher State Park MEN			FN 51:797
20 Dec 1996	2	s spit Humboldt Bay HUM			FN 51:797

Figures

Figure 5 . During the twentieth century, the Emperor Goose was acceptably recorded in California an average of three or four winters per decade. Many early records were not submitted for review.

Figure 6. Emperor Geese turn up about every other year in northern California during fall/winter, and some stay well into spring. The age of this first-winter bird, photographed at Bodega Harbor, Sonoma County, 16 February 1997, can be discerned from the appearance of the back, breast, and wing feathers (1996-146; Michael M. Rogers).

Figure 7. Distribution of 83 Emperor Geese accepted through 2003. Records are concentrated along the coast and in favored waterfowl areas in the Klamath Basin and Central Valley. The large circle in northern Orange County represents the occurrence of five birds together at Seal Beach (Anaheim Bay) in December 1968. The overlapping small circle represents a single bird that reached Laguna Beach as part of the same event.

Emperor Goose

EMPEROR GOOSE Chen canagica (Sewastianoff, 1802)

Accepted: 83 (81%)	Treated in Appendix H: no
Not accepted: 19	CBRC review: all records¹
Not submitted/reviewed: 117	Larger image with caption: click here

This goose breeds along the coasts of eastern Siberia and western Alaska; it winters in the Aleutian Islands, on the Alaska Peninsula, and on Kodiak Island. The species is a rare winter visitor along the Pacific coast (casual inland) south of Alaska, has been recorded multiple times in Hawaii, and is accidental in Greenland.

California’s first Emperor Goose was a specimen collected during “winter 1884” at Humboldt Bay, Humboldt County (Townsend 1886). Grinnell and Miller (1944) listed this and several other records that the CBRC generally chose to accept even when specimens were no longer extant, but many other old records have not been submitted (no species on the review list has more unreviewed records). The species’ rate of detection in California remained fairly steady through the twentieth century (Figure 5). Most records are from the northern coast, and nearly a third are from the Modoc Plateau or the Central Valley, where this species often associates with Greater White-fronted Geese (Figure 7). Only ten individuals have been found south of Monterey County, including five together on 15 December 1968 in Seal Beach, Orange County. On the same date, an even more southerly bird was found farther down the Orange County coast at Laguna Beach. Dates of occurrence range from 29 September to 6 June, but most are between November and March; only two wintering birds have lingered until May or June.

An apparent hybrid Emperor × Greater White-fronted Goose was photographed on 15 March 1981 at Lower Klamath NWR, Siskiyou County (Roberson 1993). Dunn (1988) cautioned that determining the age of Emperor Geese can be difficult, since dusky mottling on the head of a juvenile is largely lost by late fall or early winter.

¹Off the review list 1981–1982