Brent Goose vs Long-tailed Duck
Branta bernicla compared with Clangula hyemalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brent Goose | Long-tailed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Branta bernicla | Clangula hyemalis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.9 cm (25.2 in) | 43.1 cm (17.0 in) |
| Weight | 1335.0 g (47.09 oz) | 782.0 g (27.58 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … | Dives deeply for crustaceans, molluscs, and small fish in Arctic and subarctic seas. Freshwater invertebrates … |
| Clutch Size | 1-10 | 2-11 |
| 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.
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.
Long-tailed Duck
Male sings a musical, yodeling ow-owlet-aaaalett sequence; female gives a low, grunting quack. The male's loud, harmonious yodeling is arguably the most musical call among all waterfowl species.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Long-tailed Duck
Circumpolar High Arctic breeder. Winters at sea on coasts of northwestern Europe, northeastern North America, and the Bering Sea region.
Conservation Status
Brent Goose
Long-tailed Duck
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.
Long-tailed Duck
Male in winter is mostly white with dark brown chest band, scapulars, and cheek patch; elongated central tail feathers extend well beyond body. Female is brownish with white face, dark …
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.
Long-tailed Duck
A medium-sized Arctic sea duck (~780 g) in family Anatidae, males having elongated central tail feathers. Breeds across circumpolar tundra; winters in large flocks on coastal and open-ocean waters. Dives to impressive depths for crustaceans, fish, and mollusks. Vulnerable; steep population declines linked to bycatch in fishing nets and climate change.