Overview

Barnacle Goose: Medium goose, distinctive white face, jet-black head, neck, and upper breast. Wings and back are silver-gray with black-and-white bars. Belly is white. V-shaped white rump patch and silver-gray underwing linings are visible in flight. Black bill,legs and feet. Strong direct flight.

Range and Habitat

Barnacle Goose: Breeds in Greenland and northern Eurasia. Spend winters in northern Europe and British Isles. Probably rare vagrant in northeastern North America, though many records are believed to be of escaped captive birds. Preferred habitats include arctic rivers and marshlands; winters on coastal marshes and grasslands.

Breeding and Nesting

Barnacle Goose: Four to six gray white to yellow eggs are laid in a depression in sand or rock lined with feathers and down. Nest is often built on inaccessible rock shelf on a cliff or rocky pillar, far from water. Incubation ranges from 24 to 25 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Barnacle Goose: Feeds on grass and coastal plants.

Vocalization

Barnacle Goose: Song is a high piercing yelp. Call is a "kaw"; hisses when disturbed.

Similar Species

Barnacle Goose: Brant and Canada geese have dark underwings, foreheads, and faces, and lack white sides.