Barnacle Goose

Class: Birds

Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Weight: 1.2–2 kg

Height: 55–70 cm, wingspan 120–140 cm

Plumage: The barnacle goose is one of the most elegant and recognizable birds of the northern regions. Its plumage is predominantly black and white: the head and neck are black with a characteristic white patch on the cheeks, which is how the bird got its name. The back is gray-black with fine light stripes, while the chest and belly are white. The tail is short, with alternating black and white stripes. Barnacle geese appear particularly striking in flight due to the contrasting pattern of their plumage.

Sexual maturity: 2–3 years

Breeding period: 24–26 days

Lifespan: Up to 10–12 years in the wild, up to 15 years in captivity
Habitat: The barnacle goose breeds in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, on the islands and coastlines of Greenland, Svalbard, and Novaya Zemlya. Outside of the breeding season, it migrates to warmer regions, spending the winter along the coastlines of Western Europe, including the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. These birds prefer marshy meadows, coastal shores, and gentle slopes with access to water.
Diet: Barnacle geese are herbivorous. Their primary diet consists of grasses, mosses, lichens, and aquatic plants. In winter, they also feed on grain and crop residues in fields. During the breeding season, their diet is supplemented with young plant shoots and seeds.Did you know?
• The barnacle goose is known for its loyalty to its breeding grounds, returning to the same areas year after year.
• These birds often build nests on inaccessible cliffs and ledges to protect their young from predators.
• Barnacle geese form stable family pairs, with both parents involved in raising the offspring.
• Their migrations are some of the most spectacular in the bird world: flocks of geese form the characteristic V-shaped formation during flight.