The Barnacle Goose is just a visitor to most of North America. They breed in eastern Greenland and select high-latitude islands in the North Atlantic, and overwinter in England, Scotland, the Nethlerlands, and other locations in northern Europe. Birds breeding in Greenland sometimes stray to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, where the vast majority of North American sightings of the species have occurred. Barnacle Geese are also popular aviary birds, so many individuals spotted in the U.S. are likely from a domestic origin.
Habitat:
Barnacle geese inhabit rocky Arctic cliffs, coastal islands, and tundra, utilizing high, steep ledges for nesting to avoid predators. After nesting, they move to lush, coastal tundra, saltmarshes, and wet meadows to feed their young. In winter, they occupy coastal habitats in temperate zones, grazing on saltmarshes, farmland, and short-grass fields near the sea.
Diet:
Mostly vegetarian, feeding heavily on grasses and sedges, especially during the summer breeding season. Also feeds on aquatic vegetation, and will sometimes feed on insects and small mollusks.
Nesting:
Nests in colonies. The nest of a Barnacle Goose is usually placed in a crevice or shelf on a rocky cliff, and is made of grasses and other vegetative material, lined with down. Upon hatching, young are led to nearby water below, where they are tended to (but not fed by) the parents.
Interactive eBird Map:
Click to access an interactive eBird map of Barnacle Goose sightings
Song:
The voice of a barnacle goose consists of short, emphatic, and high-pitched nasal barks, often described as rak or urk sounds. These vocalizations are frequently given in rapid, yapping series that resemble a small dog, often producing a steady, loud cackling noise when flocks are feeding or in flight.
Migration:
Migratory, breeding in select locations in the North Atlantic and Arctic portions of Eurasia, including eastern Greenland, Svalbard, and islands in northwestern Russia. Winters in Northern Europe.
Similar Species:
Distinctive in plumage when seen well, most similar to Canada Goose , Cackling Goose, Brant. Barnacle geese are distinguished by their striking white face, black neck, and silver-grey barred upperparts, lacking the brown tones found on Canada and Cackling Geese. They are smaller than Canada Geese with a noticeably shorter, stubbier bill and a distinct black chest that terminates sharply against a white belly. They differ from Brant by having this white face rather than a dark head and neck, and they are generally more grey-toned overall compared to the darker brown bodies of Brant and Cackling Geese.
Conservation Status:
Once near-threatened due to hunting and habitat loss in the mid-20th century, the barnacle goose has experienced a dramatic recovery, with populations increasing from roughly 20,000 to over 800,000 individuals. They are now classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN and protected under international agreements. Current conservation efforts focus on balancing these growing, protected populations with agricultural interests through management schemes, such as providing alternative foraging fields, as the geese can cause damage to crops.
Photo Information:
Photo of captive bird - Taken by Terry Sohl
