Tundra Bean Goose vs Brent Goose
Anser serrirostris compared with Branta bernicla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Bean Goose | Brent Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser serrirostris | Branta bernicla |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 63.9 cm (25.2 in) |
| Weight | 2540.0 g (89.60 oz) | 1335.0 g (47.09 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 1-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Tundra Bean Goose
Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra in Siberia. Winters on agricultural land, river floodplains, and wetlands in eastern China, Japan, and Korea, with some wintering in western Europe.
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
Tundra Bean Goose
A nasal, lower call compared to Taiga Bean Goose. Considered subspecifically or specifically distinct; vocalizations are an active taxonomic tool for separation in mixed 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
Tundra Bean Goose
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Conservation Status
Tundra Bean Goose
Brent Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Tundra Bean Goose
Dark brown head and neck; grayish-brown back with pale feather fringing. Underparts pale gray-brown. Orange-yellow legs. Bill black with orange subterminal band. Recently split from Taiga Bean Goose.
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
Tundra Bean Goose
A large brown goose with dark head and neck, orange-patterned black bill, and orange legs. Separated from Taiga Bean Goose as a distinct species. Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra; winters in eastern Asia and occasionally western Europe. More common in Japan and eastern China.
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.