Bird Guide

Barnacle Goose vs Brant Goose

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

Huge1.7 kgGrassland

The barnacle goose is a medium-sized goose, 55–70 cm (22–28 in) long, with a wingspan of 120–145 cm (47–57 in) and a weight of 1.21–2.23 kg (2.7–4.9 lb), with black legs and a small, stubby black bill. It has a white face and black head, neck, and upper breast. Its belly is white. The wings and its back are silver-grey 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-grey underwing linings are visible.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Jochem verweij · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Alexis Lours · CC BY 4.0
Brant Goose (Branta bernicla)

Brant Goose

Branta bernicla

Large1.3 kgGrassland

The brant is a small goose with a short, stubby bill. It measures 55–66 cm (22–26 in) long, 106–121 cm (42–48 in) across the wings and weighs 0.88–2.2 kg (1.9–4.9 lb). The under-tail is pure white, and the tail black and very short (the shortest of any goose). The body of the dark-bellied nominate subspecies B. b. bernicla is fairly uniformly dark grey-brown all over, the flanks and belly not significantly paler than the back. The head and neck are black, with a small white patch on either side of the neck.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Barnacle Goose and Brant Goose.