Barnacle Goose vs Red-breasted Goose

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

Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Call, flight call · Céaux, Manche, Normandy, France · CC0

Photo: Alexis Lours · CC BY 4.0

Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis

Large1.2 kgGrassland

All the species of the genus Branta are distinguished by their dark sooty colour, relieved by white, and as a distinction from the grey geese of the genus Anser. This bird measures 53–56 cm (21–22 in) in length, 1.16–1.35 m (3.8–4.4 ft) in wingspan. It is sexually dimorphic, with males being slightly heavier than females, weighing 1.2–1.62 kg (2.6–3.6 lb) and 1.05–1.13 kg (2.3–2.5 lb), respectively. This brightly marked species is unmistakable, but can be surprisingly difficult to find amongst brant geese. At long distances, the red of the breast tends to look dark.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Grégoire Chauvot · Call, flight call · Genève, Genève, Genève, Switzerland · CC0

Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0

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