Pink-footed Goose vs Brent Goose
Anser brachyrhynchus compared with Branta bernicla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pink-footed Goose | Brent Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser brachyrhynchus | Branta bernicla |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 86.4 cm (34.0 in) | 63.9 cm (25.2 in) |
| Weight | 2590.0 g (91.36 oz) | 1335.0 g (47.09 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and aquatic plants near rivers; takes invertebrates in breeding season; nomadic in response … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … |
| Clutch Size | 2-8 | 1-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Pink-footed Goose
Breeds on tundra and cliff ledges in Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard. Winters on agricultural fields, saltmarshes, and estuaries in Scotland, England, Netherlands, and Denmark.
Brent Goose
Breeds on high-Arctic tundra; winters on estuaries, coastal mudflats, saltmarshes, and sea-grass beds along Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. One of the most strictly coastal wintering geese.
Song & Call Comparison
Pink-footed Goose
A musical, high-pitched 'wink-wink' — noticeably higher and more musical than Greylag or Bean Goose. The 'wink' call is a reliable identification feature in winter flocks.
Brent Goose
A low, guttural 'rronk' or 'ronk-ronk' from flocks. Soft nasal calls in feeding groups. A subtle, understated call for a goose — less loud than most Anser geese.
Geographic Range & Migration
Pink-footed Goose
Breeds on Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra ponds across North America; winters on both US coasts and Gulf Coast estuaries.
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Conservation Status
Pink-footed Goose
Brent Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Pink-footed Goose
Dark brown head and neck. Back grayish-brown; underparts pale gray. Diagnostic pink feet and pink-banded dark bill. Pale blue-gray forewing in flight. Compact and round-headed. Sexes similar.
Brent Goose
Small; mostly black head, neck, and breast. Small white neck-patch on adults. Back dark brownish-gray; belly pale gray to white depending on subspecies. White undertail coverts. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Pink-footed Goose
A compact short-necked goose with a pink-and-black bill, pink feet, and warm brown-grey body. Breeds in Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard; winters in northwestern Europe. One of Britain's most spectacular winter visitors; massive roosts of over 200,000 birds occur in Scotland.
Brent Goose
A small dark-bodied goose with a black head and neck, small white neck patches, and pale grey belly. Migrates between high-Arctic breeding grounds and temperate coastal wintering areas. Feeds on eel-grass and saltmarsh vegetation in winter. Three subspecies differ in belly coloration.