Brent Goose

Branta bernicla

Coastal wanderers with a distinctive dark plumage, these small geese embark on epic migrations across the Northern Hemisphere.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Brent Goose is characterised by its dark grey-brown body, black head, neck, and breast, with a distinctive white neck patch. Its compact body and short, thick neck give it a stocky appearance compared to other geese.

Males and females are largely alike in plumage, although the neck band is typically wider and more prominent in males and females are generally smaller.

Juveniles show duller plumage and less distinct neck patches. The birds' feathers may appear slightly paler during winter due to wear.

Size

Length

55cm to 66cm

Wingspan

105cm to 117cm

Weight

1000g to 2.5kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black Grey Brown

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Brent Goose can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Brent Goose can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Brent Goose is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Brent Geese breed in the high Arctic tundra of North America and Eurasia. During winter, they migrate to coastal areas in temperate regions, including the British Isles, western Europe, and both coasts of North America.

They show a strong preference for shallow marine habitats, particularly intertidal mudflats, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. They are common winter visitors to the eastern and southern coasts in the UK.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 100 meters

Climate zones

Arctic, Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Brent Goose. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons