Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

Other Names (World)
Barnacle Goose, Claik, Clakis

Family
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans)

Size
58 - 70 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Bechstein, 1803)

Habitat
Breeds on tundra. Overwinters on coastal grassland and saltmarshes.

Range (Guide)

Belgium (B) (NB), Denmark (B) (NB) (P), Estonia (B) (NB) (P), Faroe Islands (B), Finland (B) (NB) (P), France (NB) (P), Germany (B) (NB) (P), Greenland (B), Iceland (B) (P), Ireland (NB), Latvia (NB) (P), Netherlands Antilles (B) (NB), Norway (B) (P), Poland (NB), Russia (European) (B) (P), Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (B), Sweden (B) (NB) (P), United Kingdom (NB) (P).

Vagrant to Algeria, Austria (NB), Belarus, Bulgaria (NB), Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary (NB), Italy, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Romania (NB), Russia (Central Asian), Serbia, Slovakia (Slovak Republic), Slovenia, Spain (NB), Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, USA.

Eastern Greenland, Svalbard (Spitzbergen) and Novaya Zemlya.

Population
Estimated population is 500,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Plant material, including roots and seeds.

Voice
A short, sharp bark, higher pitched than most other geese. Can remeble yapping dogs when heard from a distance.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (10)...)

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) [XC843317]
by SonoNatura from Ida Gerhard, Netherlands (flight call)

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) [XC891081]
by Christian B\u00f8ggild from Vinderup, Holstebro Municipality, Central Denmark Region, Denmark (flight call)

Nest
A mound of vegetation on a cliff ledge or island.

Eggs (Guide)
Usually 3 - 5; grey-white and soon stained. Incubation: about 28 days; by female.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

References
See References.

The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7

Files:

JPG files for Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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