Brent Goose vs Red-breasted Goose
Branta bernicla compared with Branta ruficollis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brent Goose | Red-breasted Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Branta bernicla | Branta ruficollis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.9 cm (25.2 in) | 69.1 cm (27.2 in) |
| Weight | 1335.0 g (47.09 oz) | 1253.25 g (44.21 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … | Grazes grasses, seeds, and aquatic plants; introduced to many wetlands; upends in shallow water for … |
| Clutch Size | 1-10 | 3-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
Red-breasted Goose
Breeds on river-terrace tundra in northwestern Siberia, often near Peregrine or Rough-legged Buzzard nests for protection. Winters on agricultural steppes and lake margins around the Black Sea and Caspian Sea.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Red-breasted Goose
A high-pitched, rapid 'kik-kik-kik' call. More vocal during migration; flocks give constant chattering. Considered a more squeaky, high-pitched call than other Branta geese.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Red-breasted Goose
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic tundra in North America; winters along both US coasts and interior wetlands south to Central America.
Conservation Status
Brent Goose
Red-breasted Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Red-breasted Goose
Unmistakable; vivid chestnut-red patch on face and breast bordered by white stripes. Black crown, back, wings, and belly. White flank stripe and undertail. Compact and striking. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
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.
Red-breasted Goose
A small strikingly patterned goose with a vivid chestnut-red breast and face patch, black-and-white body, and white flank stripe. Breeds in Siberian tundra; winters mainly around the Black Sea. One of the most colorful and endangered geese, threatened by hunting and agricultural changes at wintering sites.