Brent Goose Facts | Branta Bernicla

How to identify

The Brent Goose is a small, dark goose - of similar size to a Mallard. It has a black head and neck and grey-brown back, with either a pale or dark belly, depending on the sub-species. Adults have a small white neck patch. It flies in loose flocks along the coast, rather than in tight skeins like Grey Geese. It is an Amber List species because of the important numbers found at just a few sites.

Call

Brent Goose

David Farrow / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

Our smallest goose – about the size of a Mallard
Black head and neck with a small white patch on the side of the neck
Short black beak
Pale or dark belly – depending on the subspecies

Conservation status

Brent Geese are currently on the Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern. While their global population is stable, they rely heavily on protected coastal habitats, which are vulnerable to development and climate change.

Where and when to see them

Difficulty rating - Easy to Medium

Brent Geese often gather in large flocks, making them easy to spot if you’re in the right place.

Brent Geese are coastal specialists. Look for them on estuaries, saltmarshes, and mudflats, where they feed on eelgrass, marine algae and saltmarsh plants. You might also see some birds, especially in southern England, feeding on grassland.