White-fronted Geese and Barnacle Geese
The Greater White-fronted Goose is a species of goose which is closely related to the smaller Lesser White-fronted Goose. In Europe it is known as simply White-fronted Goose" whilst in north America it is known as the Greater White-fronted Goose. The Latin name, Anser albifrons, is derived from anser meaning "goose" and albus meaning "white " and frons meaning “forehead”.
The White-fronted Goose is 25 to 32 inches in length with a 51 to 65 inches wingspan and weighs 4.3 to 7.3 pounds. It is smaller than the Greylag Goose and, as well as being larger than the Lesser White-fronted Goose, it lacks the yellow eye-ring of that species and the white facial blaze does not extend upwards so far.
The White-fronted Goose is a greyish-brown goose with a light grey breast dappled with dark brown to black blotches and bar, a pinkish bill and orange legs and feet. The male is typically larger in size but both sexes are similar in appearance
The White-fronted Goose is divided into 5 subspecies. The nominate subspecies, A. a. albifrons, breeds in the far north of Europe and Asia and winters further south and west in Europe, including England and Wales. The very distinct Greenland White-fronted Goose, A. a. flavirostris, breeds in west Greenland and is much darker overall with only a very narrow white tip to the tail (broader on the other races), more black barring on its belly and usually has an orange (not pink) bill. It winters in Ireland and west Scotland. Some ecological studies suggest that the Greenland White-fronted Goose should probably be considered a separate species.
Weather conditions are a key factor in the annual breeding success of the White-fronted Goose. In the Arctic, the window of opportunity for nesting, incubating eggs and raising a brood is open briefly for about 3 months. Arriving in late May or early June, White-fronted Geese begin departing for their wintering areas in early September. This means that a delayed snowmelt or late spring storm can significantly reduce breeding success.
The Barnacle Goose belongs to the Branta genus of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the Anser genus of grey geese.
The Barnacle Goose and the similar Brent Goose were previously considered a single species and formerly believed to be essentially the same creature as the goose barnacle, a filter-feeding crustacean that lives attached to hard surfaces of rocks and flotsam in the ocean intertidal zone. This gave rise to the English name of the Barnacle Goose and the scientific name of the Brent Goose. The barnacle myth can be dated back to at least the 12th century. Gerald of Wales claimed to have seen these birds hanging down from pieces of timber, William Turner accepted the theory and John Gerard claimed to have seen the birds emerging from their shells. The legend persisted until the end of the 18th century.
The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized goose, 22 to 28 inches long with a wingspan of 51 to 57 inches. It has a white face and black head, neck and upper breast. The belly is white. The wings and its back are silver-grey with black and white bars that look like they are shining when the light reflects on them. During flight a V-shaped white rump patch and the silver-grey underwings are visible.
The Barnacle goose breeds mainly on the Arctic islands of the North Atlantic. There are 3 main populations, with separate breeding and wintering ranges, from west to east: birds breeding in eastern Greenland and wintering on the Hebrides of western Scotland (especially Islay) and in western Ireland (population about 40000), birds breeding on Svalbard and wintering on the Solway Firth on the England/Scotland border (population about 24000) and birds breeding on Novaya Zemlya and wintering in the Netherlands (population about 130000)
A new population, derived from the Novaya Zemlya population, has become established since 1975 breeding on the islands and coasts of the Baltic Sea (Estonia, Finland, Denmark and Sweden) and wintering in the Netherlands (population about 8000).
Small numbers of feral birds, derived from escapes from zoo collections, also breed in other north European countries. Occasionally, a wild bird will appear in north east USA or Canada but care must be taken to separate out wild birds from escaped individuals since the Barnacle Goose is popular waterfowl with collectors.
Barnacle Geese frequently build their nests high on mountain cliffs away from predators (primarily the Arctic Fox and Polar Bear) but also away from food. Like all geese, the goslings are not fed by the adults and instead of bringing food to the newly hatched goslings, the goslings are brought to the ground. Unable to fly, the 3 day goslings jump off the cliff and fall. Their small size, feathery down and very light weight helps to protect some of them from serious injury when they hit the rocks below but many die from the impact. In addition, Arctic Foxes capture many dead or injured goslings.
The Barnacle Goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Date: 11th May 2016
Location: Haeska, Matsalu National Park, Estonia
The White-fronted Goose is 25 to 32 inches in length with a 51 to 65 inches wingspan and weighs 4.3 to 7.3 pounds. It is smaller than the Greylag Goose and, as well as being larger than the Lesser White-fronted Goose, it lacks the yellow eye-ring of that species and the white facial blaze does not extend upwards so far.
The White-fronted Goose is a greyish-brown goose with a light grey breast dappled with dark brown to black blotches and bar, a pinkish bill and orange legs and feet. The male is typically larger in size but both sexes are similar in appearance
The White-fronted Goose is divided into 5 subspecies. The nominate subspecies, A. a. albifrons, breeds in the far north of Europe and Asia and winters further south and west in Europe, including England and Wales. The very distinct Greenland White-fronted Goose, A. a. flavirostris, breeds in west Greenland and is much darker overall with only a very narrow white tip to the tail (broader on the other races), more black barring on its belly and usually has an orange (not pink) bill. It winters in Ireland and west Scotland. Some ecological studies suggest that the Greenland White-fronted Goose should probably be considered a separate species.
Weather conditions are a key factor in the annual breeding success of the White-fronted Goose. In the Arctic, the window of opportunity for nesting, incubating eggs and raising a brood is open briefly for about 3 months. Arriving in late May or early June, White-fronted Geese begin departing for their wintering areas in early September. This means that a delayed snowmelt or late spring storm can significantly reduce breeding success.
The Barnacle Goose belongs to the Branta genus of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the Anser genus of grey geese.
The Barnacle Goose and the similar Brent Goose were previously considered a single species and formerly believed to be essentially the same creature as the goose barnacle, a filter-feeding crustacean that lives attached to hard surfaces of rocks and flotsam in the ocean intertidal zone. This gave rise to the English name of the Barnacle Goose and the scientific name of the Brent Goose. The barnacle myth can be dated back to at least the 12th century. Gerald of Wales claimed to have seen these birds hanging down from pieces of timber, William Turner accepted the theory and John Gerard claimed to have seen the birds emerging from their shells. The legend persisted until the end of the 18th century.
The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized goose, 22 to 28 inches long with a wingspan of 51 to 57 inches. It has a white face and black head, neck and upper breast. The belly is white. The wings and its back are silver-grey with black and white bars that look like they are shining when the light reflects on them. During flight a V-shaped white rump patch and the silver-grey underwings are visible.
The Barnacle goose breeds mainly on the Arctic islands of the North Atlantic. There are 3 main populations, with separate breeding and wintering ranges, from west to east: birds breeding in eastern Greenland and wintering on the Hebrides of western Scotland (especially Islay) and in western Ireland (population about 40000), birds breeding on Svalbard and wintering on the Solway Firth on the England/Scotland border (population about 24000) and birds breeding on Novaya Zemlya and wintering in the Netherlands (population about 130000)
A new population, derived from the Novaya Zemlya population, has become established since 1975 breeding on the islands and coasts of the Baltic Sea (Estonia, Finland, Denmark and Sweden) and wintering in the Netherlands (population about 8000).
Small numbers of feral birds, derived from escapes from zoo collections, also breed in other north European countries. Occasionally, a wild bird will appear in north east USA or Canada but care must be taken to separate out wild birds from escaped individuals since the Barnacle Goose is popular waterfowl with collectors.
Barnacle Geese frequently build their nests high on mountain cliffs away from predators (primarily the Arctic Fox and Polar Bear) but also away from food. Like all geese, the goslings are not fed by the adults and instead of bringing food to the newly hatched goslings, the goslings are brought to the ground. Unable to fly, the 3 day goslings jump off the cliff and fall. Their small size, feathery down and very light weight helps to protect some of them from serious injury when they hit the rocks below but many die from the impact. In addition, Arctic Foxes capture many dead or injured goslings.
The Barnacle Goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Date: 11th May 2016
Location: Haeska, Matsalu National Park, Estonia
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Also in: Estonia
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