Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
Taxonomy
French: Bernache nonnette German: Weißwangengans Spanish: Barnacla cariblanca
Taxonomy:
Anas leucopsis
Bechstein
, 1803,Germany
.Distribution:
E Greenland, Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Novaya Zemlya and scattered locations in NW Siberia, Scandinavia and Baltic area; recorded as breeding in Franz Josef Land#R. Winters in N Britain and along North Sea coasts.
Small feral population in S Britain.
Descriptive notes
58–71 cm; 1290–2400 g but male mainly 1500–2200 g, female 1300–1900 g; wingspan 132–145 cm. Unmistakable, with black neck, breast, primaries and... read more
Voice
Gives short, sharp barking notes, both on ground and in flight, not unlike the yapping of a small... read more
Habitat
Breeds on crags and rocky outcrops in Arctic tundra, preferably near waterbodies and rivers, and... read more
Food and feeding
Essentially vegetarian; leaves, stems and seed heads of grasses, sedges and aquatic plants; in winter also grain and some vegetables. In... read more
Breeding
Starts late May/Jun, with laying dates on Vaygach I (Russia) in 1980s being 5–20 Jun, and departure from breeding grounds in late Aug... read more
Movements
Migratory, departs breeding grounds (mainly late Aug/Sept) to winter mainly in Britain (Scotland... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Has extremely localized breeding and wintering grounds, but species is currently undergoing rapid expansion. Total world population... read more
Has hybridized in the wild with several other geese, including B. bernicla#R and Anser rossii#R. Monotypic.