Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Barnacle Goose
Copied!
Branta leucopsis
Copied!
Voice
Call
Jochem verweij
Call
Joost van Bruggen
Call
Joost van Bruggen
How to recognize it
-
60–70 cm, like a small goose
-
Black head and neck, white face and throat
-
Grey barred flanks and wings
-
In flight, a white rump patch stands out
About the species
Barnacle Geese move in tight family groups and often keep to open ground, where they walk and graze with quick, busy steps. They also swim and fly well, and when danger comes during the wing molt, they may run for safety instead.
Their voice is sharp and nasal, often given in short, repeated notes. On the nest, they use steep cliffs and rocky coasts, with a few pairs spaced apart rather than packed into large colonies.
They breed in the Arctic, from Greenland and Svalbard to Novaya Zemlya, and spend the colder season farther south in the Netherlands, Germany, Britain, Ireland, and nearby coasts. They feed on grass and other plant matter, taking what the tundra and wintering areas provide.
Where to find
-
Along canal banks, pond edges, and reed-fringed waterfronts — foraging on the grassy rim and in shallow water, with sudden loud honking.
-
On open lawns near water — grazing in tight flocks with short, quick steps.
-
On riverbanks and reservoir shores — easiest to catch in flight by the black-and-white body and bright white face.
-
In spring and autumn on damp meadow-like floodplains — pausing to rest and feed while the flock drifts across the grass.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Branta leucopsis Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Barnacle goose Encyclopedia article