Birds and wildlife

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsisGroup: Ducks, geese and swansUK Conservation status:Amber

How to identify

The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized, sociable goose, with a black head, neck and breast and a creamy-white face. This contrasts with the white belly, blue-grey striped back and black tail. Barnacle Geese fly in packs and long lines, with a noisy chorus of barking or yapping sounds.

Call

Barnacle Goose

Willem-Pier Vellinga / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

  • Black head and neck
  • White face
  • Silvery-grey body
  • Short, stubby black beak
  • One of our smallest geese

Conservation status

Barnacle Geese are on the Amber List.

Where and when to see them

Difficulty rating - Easy to Medium

Barnacle Geese gather in large, vocal groups, making them relatively easy to spot.

Wild Barnacle Geese only visit the UK in autumn and winter, migrating from Greenland and Svalbard to spend the colder months on coastal wetlands and estuaries in Scotland, northern England and Ireland. Feral birds can be seen year-round, nesting on gravel pits and lakes — but the real spectacle comes with autumn’s Arctic arrivals. 

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Where best to see them

Barnacle Goose flock, in wetland marsh, RSPB Mersehead, Dumfies and Galloway
Barnacle Goose flock
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Key facts