Pink-Footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchus

Family:

Ducks, geese and swans

Length:

60cm to 76cm

Wingspan:

135cm to 160cm

Weight:

2.2kg to 2.7kg

About the Pink-footed Goose

The pink-footed goose is a medium-sized member of the goose family. They are slightly larger than mallards but slightly smaller than a mute swan. They have dark necks and heads and bodies are pinkish-grey. Legs and bills are both pink.

Large numbers of these birds spend the winter here in the UK, but don't actually breed here at all. The birds that come over for the winter are from Greenland, Iceland and Spitsbergen. Due to better protection of winter roosts, numbers of these birds are on the increase in the UK - particularly in Norfolk.

What does a Pink-footed Goose eat?

Their diets consist of potatoes, grass, winter cereal and grain.

Other birds in the Ducks, geese and swans family

Wigeon

Whooper Swan

This large bird arrives on our shores from Iceland to overwinter in late September, returning northwards to breed from mid March onwards.

White-Fronted Goose

Velvet Scoter

Tundra Bean Goose

Tufted Duck

A type of diving duck, distinguished by its mohican-like feathers at back of head.

Teal

Taiga Bean Goose

Snow Goose

Smew

Shoveler

Shelduck

Scaup

Ruddy Duck

Red-Crested Pochard

Red-Breasted Merganser

Pochard

During the winter the population of this rare resident breeding duck increases by 55 times to that of the summer, with the influx of many thousands of others overwintering, having arrived from Russia and Eastern Europe.

Pintail

Mute Swan

Mandarin Duck

A native of Japan and China, the mandarin duck was first introduced into the UK in the 18th century and started populations in the wild in the 1930’s following escapes from captivity. The UK population is estimated to be in the region of 7,000 birds.

Mallard

Long-Tailed Duck

Greylag Goose

Merganser

Widespread throughout the northern hemisphere, the common merganser is the largest of the saw billed fish eating ducks. There are three sub-species with the Eurasian variant frequently known as the Goosander.

Goldeneye

Garganey

Gadwall

Eider

Egyptian Goose

Regarded as being sacred by early Egyptians, this native goose of the African continent was introduced into Europe and elsewhere as an ornamental wildfowl species in the late seventeenth and eighteenth century.

Common Scoter

The word scoter is often used to define northern sea ducks. There are six different species of scoter, all of which are monotypic and three of which are confined to North America. The Common Scoter like the Velvet Scoter can only be found in Europe and Asia whilst the Stejneger’s Scoter is a native of Asia alone.

Canada Goose

Brent Goose

Bewick's Swan

Winter visitors to the UK, formerly considered a full species, but now considered a sub-species of the Tundra Swan.

Barnacle Goose

A highly sociable and unmistakable member of the goose family, often seen and heard flying in long, noisy packs and lines.