Barnacle Goose

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Barnacle Goose, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Amber listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	Yes
Listed on the Annexes of	WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

This species is mainly a winter visitor to the UK, but there is also a recently established and small naturalised breeding population which is increasing and expanding. This was estimated at 1,450 breeding pairs for the period 2012–15 (APEP4).

Birds wintering along the coast and islands of northwestern Scotland and western Ireland are largely from the Greenland-breeding population, whilst the birds on the Solway Firth and on the east coast of Britain are largely from the Svalbard population. The naturalised population, which is found mainly in Britain, has a much wider distribution, and accounts for many of the occupied 10-km squares in inland areas, particularly throughout England.

In Britain, a range increase of 79% is evident since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas, with many gains throughout England being associated with the increasing naturalised population. Along the western coast of Scotland, particularly in the strongholds of the Solway Firth, Islay and the Outer Hebrides, the number of occupied 10-km squares has largely remained stable, despite a population increase.

Barnacle Geese can now be seen year-round, with large wintering flocks giving way to a small but growing naturalised breeding population in summer.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	26 years 11 months 11 days (set in 2004)
Typical Lifespan	14 years with breeding typically at 3 year
Adult Survival	0.91   (Male: 0.9±0.01 Female: 0.9±0.01)

Wing Length	Adults	411.2±18.7 | Range 385–438mm, N=402
	Juveniles	396.8±14.7 | Range 375-420mm, N=23
	Males	421.1±14 | Range 395–443mm, N=215
	Females	399.9±17.1 | Range 380–425mm, N=184

Body Weight	Adults	1.83±0.19 | Range 1.53–2.15kg, N=408
	Juveniles	1.70±0.18 | Range 1.40–1.95kg, N=24
	Males	1.93±0.17 | Range 1.64–2.20kg, N=222
	Females	1.72±0.16 | Range 1.48–1.98kg, N=184

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	J
Field Codes	2-letter: BY | 5-letter code: BARGO | Euring: 1670

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

There is little good evidence available regarding the drivers of the breeding population increase in this species in the UK. However, the species is likely to benefit from factors similar to those which have enabled other goose species (Canada Goose, Greylag Goose and more recently Egpytian Goose) to expand rapidly in the UK. These may include recent improvements in the availability and condition of wetland habitats, and (in urban parks) a relative scarcity of predators compared to more natural habitats. It is unclear whether the Barnacle Goose population will grow as rapidly as the other goose species as it may face competition from the three established species.