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Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchus

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Winter visitor; pink legs, dark bill with pink band.

Species Profile

Green List (UK); Least Concern (IUCN). Population stable and locally increasing.

Lifespan: 15–20 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 60–76 cm, wingspan 130–160 cm; 1.5–2.5 kg
Habitat: Arctic tundra breeding grounds; winters on coastal marshes, estuaries, and agricultural grasslands in temperate regions.
UK Distribution: Winter visitor to the UK, arriving September–October and departing April–May. Most abundant in Scotland, particularly the Solway Firth, northeast England, and parts of eastern England.
Diet: Herbivorous, feeding on grasses, clover, sedges, and agricultural crops including grain and root vegetables.
Predators: Arctic foxes, wolves, and golden eagles on breeding grounds; in the UK, mainly eggs and chicks vulnerable to corvids and large gulls.
Mating Season: May to July
Breeding: Clutch size 3–5 eggs; incubation period 24–26 days; single brood per year. Young fledge at 7–8 weeks.
Behaviour: Highly gregarious and vocal, forming large flocks in winter that can number thousands. Males are territorial during breeding and remain paired for life. Known for their distinctive laughing calls.

Did You Know?

•Pink-footed geese are named for their characteristic pink feet and legs, visible in flight and when on water.
•The entire Icelandic and Greenlandic breeding population winters in the UK and Ireland, making Britain crucial for their survival.
•They navigate between Arctic breeding grounds and wintering sites using the same routes and roosting locations year after year.
•Pink-footed geese can fly at altitudes exceeding 8,000 metres, allowing them to cross mountain ranges during migration.
•UK populations have increased dramatically since the 1950s due to legal protection and reduced hunting pressure.

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