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2

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) German name(s): "Weißwangengans", "Nonnengans" Size: 55-70 cm; wing span 1.3-1.45 m Weight: 1.2-2.2 kg

Europe: Family Group 2 Family Group 2 Table Mute Swan Whooper Swan Greylag Goose Pink-footed Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Canada Goose Barnacle Goose Brent Goose Red-breasted Goose Common Eider Common Scoter Velvet Scoter Common Goldeneye Common Shelduck Ruddy Shelduck Northern Shoveler Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Garganey Northern Pintail Mallard Eurasian Teal Gadwall Common Pochard Red-crested Pochard Ferruginous Duck Tufted Duck Ring-necked Duck Smew Red-breasted Merganser Goosander Great Crested Grebe Black-necked Grebe Little Grebe Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Barnacle Geese are medium-sized geese with a long neck. They have a white facial mask (which can be pale-yellow in some individuals), a black crown and black neck and chest. The belly is grey, with fine barring on the flanks, while the vent and undertail coverts are white. The upperwings are grey, with bold black and white barring on the coverts, which is also prominently visible when the wings are folded. The rump is white, while the short tail is black. The irises are black. They have a rather short, nearly triangular, dark-grey bill. The slender legs and feet are dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Barnacle Goose at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Barnacle Goose is available HERE . Barnacle Geese are a migratory species. They breed mostly on Arctic islands in the northern Atlantic ocean (Svalbard [Spitsbergen], eastern Greenland, Novaya Zemlya), but in recent decades a breeding colony has established itself on islands and along the coastline of the Baltic Sea. Most of the birds from Greenland migrate to wintering quarters in the Hebrides and western Ireland, while those from Svalbard spend the winters mostly in the border region of England with Scotland. Those from Novaya Zemlya and the new Baltic breeding grounds winter along the Dutch North Sea coastline and in wetlands of central and western Europe (including inland areas). In Europe Barnacle Geese breed on Svalbard, around the southern Baltic Sea and in (near-)coastal north-western Russia, while they overwinter along the German Baltic Sea and North Sea coastline and southward along the North Sea/Atlantic coastline to Normandy, plus along the coastlines of the British Isles and in some wetlands in inland central Europe. Barnacle Geese breed colonially, mostly on stony ground, but also on slopes to northern tundra. While wintering they are found, again in large flocks, in coastal grassland.

Sightings Click here for sighting information H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting a large flock of Barnacle Geese at the Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, in April 2016, and again in May 2019. J. Pires reports spotting Barnacle Geese on Terceira Island, Azores, in November 2018. M. Thomas reports found a single Barnacle Goose in the township of Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in April 2019. M. Eaton found Barnacle Geese in St. James's Park, London, England, in September 2019.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Barnacle Goose (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Barnacle Goose (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, April 2019]

Flock of Barnacle Geese in shallow water (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, April 2016]

Closer look at individual geese in a flock of Barnacle Geese (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, April 2016]

Flock of Barnacle Geese on coastal grassland (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, May 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Barnacle Goose, right, in flight with two Pink-footed Geese (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Barnacle Goose banking to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Barnacle Goose in flight, top right, with a Pink-footed Goose (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Dorsal view of a Barnacle Goose in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Dorsal view of a Barnacle Goose in flight, right, with two Pink-footed Geese (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Barnacle Goose feeding on grass (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, April 2019]

Flock of Barnacle Geese feeding in coastal grassland (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, May 2019]

Flock of Barnacle Geese feeding in coastal grassland (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, April 2016]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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