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Barnacle Goose,Ganso-de-faces-brancas

Branta leucopsis

Description:

The Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. Despite its superficial similarity to the Brent Goose, genetic analysis has shown it is an eastern derivative of the Cackling Goose lineage. The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized goose, 55–70 cm (22–28 in) long, with a wingspan of 130–145 cm (51–57 in) and a body mass of 1.21–2.23 kg (2.7–4.9 lb). It has a white face and black head, neck, and upper breast. Its belly is white. The wings and its back are silver-gray with black-and-white bars that look like they are shining when the light reflects on it. During flight a V-shaped white rump patch and the silver-gray underwing linings are visible.

Habitat:

Barnacle Geese breed mainly on the Arctic islands of the North Atlantic. There are three main populations, with separate breeding and wintering ranges; from west to east: Breeding in eastern Greenland, wintering on the Hebrides of western Scotland and in western Ireland. Population about 40,000. Breeding on Svalbard, wintering on the Solway Firth on the England/Scotland border. Population about 24,000. Breeding on Novaya Zemlya, wintering in the Netherlands. Population about 130,000. A new fourth population, derived from the Novaya Zemlya population, has become established since 1975 breeding on the Baltic Sea islands (Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden), and wintering in the Netherlands. Population about 8,000. 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 the Northeastern United States or Canada, but care must be taken to separate out wild birds from escaped individuals, as Barnacle Geese are popular waterfowl with collectors.

Notes:

Conservation In Helsinki Zoo, Finland The Barnacle Goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.According to Sveriges ornitologiska förening the geese began breeding in Sweden in 71, and according to Skansen it was 40 years ago, more or less, when the entire population of Barnacle Geese left in the autumn to return in spring, soon after they began breeding in the wild. spotted in V.N.Gaia biological park rescue wild life facilitys

1 Species ID Suggestions

Liam
Liam 11 years ago
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose


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4 Comments

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 11 years ago

Thanks Liam for one more id

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 11 years ago

interesting info Emma,next time i pass in the park i'll ask for detail of several things i want to know,and that is one of those,majority of the animal's that i saw is baded,i presuma that is in case of scape,but i'll ask :)
i'am allready missing the park,i have to plan a visit soon :)

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

Have not seen one of these yet, Just read an article that the Waterfowl population in Cali is declining!

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

It is banded for observation? It is a Barnacle Goose like Liam suggested. Cute!

Porto, Portugal

Spotted on Jun 13, 2012
Submitted on Jul 4, 2012

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