Barnacle Goose

The Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis, is a medium-sized member of the black geese genus Branta. It is characterized by its striking black and white plumage, with a distinctive white face, black head, neck, and upper breast. The underparts are predominantly white, while the back and wings boast a silver-gray hue adorned with black-and-white bars that glisten in the sunlight. Adults typically measure between 55 to 70 centimeters in length, with a wingspan stretching from 130 to 145 centimeters, and weigh between 1.21 and 2.23 kilograms.

Identification Tips

When observing these geese, look for the white face contrasting sharply with the black head and neck. In flight, the V-shaped white rump patch and silver-gray underwing linings are telltale signs of the species. The barred pattern on the back and wings is also a key feature to distinguish the Barnacle Goose from similar species.

Habitat

Barnacle Geese are known to breed in the high Arctic regions, often selecting precipitous cliff edges to place their nests, well out of reach of terrestrial predators. They favor coastal areas and are commonly found in wetland environments during winter.

Distribution

The species has a circumpolar distribution, with breeding grounds in Greenland, Svalbard, and the Russian Arctic. Wintering areas include the British Isles, particularly the Hebrides and parts of western Ireland, as well as the Wadden Sea area in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Notably, new breeding populations have established in Iceland and along the Baltic Sea.

Behaviour

These geese are renowned for their perilous breeding strategy, where goslings must leap from towering cliffs to join their parents on the ground below. This dramatic plunge is a rite of passage, ensuring that only the fittest survive. The goslings imprint on their parents and follow them to feeding grounds, learning to forage under their guidance.

Song & Calls

The Barnacle Goose communicates with a repertoire of honking calls, which can be heard during their social interactions and as they fly in formation during migration.

Breeding

Nesting typically occurs on cliff ledges, where the female lays her eggs far from the reach of predators. The young goslings must make a daring leap to the ground to join their parents after hatching, a testament to the harsh realities of life in the Arctic.

Similar Species

The Barnacle Goose can be confused with the Brant Goose, but the latter lacks the Barnacle's white face and has a more uniformly dark belly.

Diet and Feeding

These geese graze on a variety of vegetation, including grasses, aquatic plants, and mosses. They are herbivorous and often feed in wetlands and coastal areas where such food is abundant.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Barnacle Goose as Least Concern, with populations on the rise. The species has benefited from conservation efforts under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.