Page 100 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Branta leucopsis
Barnacle Goose black eye
patch
small, stubby
black bill
cream-tinged white face
(pure white on juvenile)
glossy
pale grey black neck
wings and chest
ADULT
ADULT
IN FLIGHT
blue-grey back with
black and white bars
(irregular on juvenile)
strongly contrasted
wings and underside
white
underside

ADULT

FLIGHT: strong, quick; flocks form irregular packs.
ADULT
ew birds so numerous as this are restricted to such
Flocalized, traditional wintering sites. Barnacle
Geese are predictably found, mostly on protected
areas, from autumn until late spring, and are generally
rather shy and unapproachable except when viewed
from hides.They are not nearly so widespread as
Canada Geese and, except for a handful of escapees
and semi-tame groups, not so “suburbanized”.Adult
birds have strongly contrasted upper- and underparts, CONTRASTED COLOURS
while the juveniles are duller and lack the cream tinge Barnacle Geese, like other goose
on the white face, which is so evident in the adults. species, are especially prone to
VOICE Harsh, short bark, creating chattering, showing strong contrasts in low
yapping, unmusical chorus from flocks. winter sun.
NESTING Feather-lined nest on ground or on cliff
ledges in Arctic tundra; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood; May–June.
FEEDING Large flocks graze on grass, clover, and
similar vegetation.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in Greenland and Svalbard
BRENT GOOSE white chinstrap with populations remaining
see p.99
dark brown back separate all year. Mostly in Iceland,
face W Scotland, Ireland, and Low
Countries in winter, with migrants
through Baltic, on grassy pastures
smaller and IRREGULAR FLOCK and salt marshes.
darker
Flocks of Barnacle Geese form
CANADA GOOSE irregular packs in flight, not “V”s Seen in the UK
see p.97 JF M A M J JA S ON D
or chevrons.
Length 58–70cm (23–28in) Wingspan 1.32–1.45m (4 1 ⁄4 –4 3 ⁄4ft) Weight 1.5–2kg (3 1 ⁄4 –4 1 ⁄2lb)
Social Flocks Lifespan Up to 18 years Status Localized
98