🐦

Brent Goose

Branta bernicla

Not yet photographed by the community

Small dark goose of coastal mudflats; white neck collar.

Species Profile

Green List (UK)

Lifespan: 15–20 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 55–66 cm, wingspan 100–120 cm; 1.3–2 kg
Habitat: Coastal estuaries, saltmarshes, and mudflats during winter; Arctic tundra breeding grounds in summer.
UK Distribution: Winter visitor to UK coasts, particularly abundant on eastern and southern estuaries from September to April. Two subspecies occur: dark-bellied birds from Russia/Siberia and pale-bellied birds from Canadian Arctic.
Diet: Herbivorous, grazing on eelgrass, sea lettuce, and other algae, supplemented by saltmarsh plants and cultivated crops.
Predators: Foxes, mink, and sea eagles on breeding grounds; white-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons in UK wintering areas.
Mating Season: May to July
Breeding: Clutch of 3–5 eggs, incubation period 24–26 days, typically single brood per season. Young fledge at 40–50 days old.
Behaviour: Highly gregarious, forming flocks of hundreds or thousands on winter estuaries. Strong pair bonds and high site fidelity, with individuals returning to the same wintering grounds annually. Migratory, with journey times to Arctic breeding grounds taking several weeks.

Did You Know?

•Brent geese undertake one of the longest migrations of any goose, travelling 4,000+ km from Arctic breeding grounds to UK and Mediterranean wintering areas.
•The pale-bellied subspecies nearly became extinct in the 1960s when populations fell below 2,000 individuals, but have since recovered to over 20,000 through conservation efforts.
•They are vocal birds with distinctive low-pitched, growling calls that give them their 'brent' name.
•Brent geese are rarely found inland in the UK and are almost exclusively coastal birds, making them sensitive to coastal habitat loss and pollution.
•Pairs often remain together for multiple years and may breed at the same location, showing remarkable breeding site and mate fidelity.

🐦

No photos yet

Be the first to photograph a Brent Goose and share it with the community.