Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis
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<birdfyi-bird slug="branta-leucopsis"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-sized cleanly patterned goose with a white face, black crown, neck, and breast, grey barred back, and white belly. Breeds in the high Arctic; winters in northwestern Europe. Famous in medieval times as the subject of the legend that it hatched from barnacles.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 76.4 cm | 30.1 in |
| Weight | 1685.0 g | 59.44 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Striking black, white and gray pattern. White face and forehead; black crown, neck, and upper breast. Gray back with black and white barring. White underparts. Black tail. Sexes similar; elegant goose.
Habitat & Range
Breeds on inaccessible Arctic cliff ledges in Greenland, Svalbard, and Novaya Zemlya. Winters on coastal saltmarshes, pastures, and estuaries in northwestern Europe, particularly Scotland and Ireland.
Geographic Range
Breeds in Arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada; winters on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States and northern Mexico.
Diet & Feeding
Large white swan grazing aquatic plants and grasses; upends for submerged vegetation; supplements diet with invertebrates in breeding.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 24-25 days. Fledging: 40-45 days.
Clutch Size
2-9
Sound
Song
A rapid, high-pitched barking 'uk-uk-uk' given rapidly in flocks. Higher-pitched and more rapid than Canada Goose. Migrating flocks create a constant excited barking chorus.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes (Waterfowl) |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans) |
| Genus | Branta |
| Species | Branta leucopsis |
Distribution
Barnacle Goose has been recorded in 11 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Barnacle Goose eat?
Where does the Barnacle Goose live?
Is the Barnacle Goose endangered?
How does the Barnacle Goose nest?
What does the Barnacle Goose sound like?
How big is the Barnacle Goose?
What order and family does the Barnacle Goose belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Anatidae family