Brent Goose
Branta bernicla (Linnaeus, 1758)
BG
BREGO
1680
Family: Anseriformes > Anatidae
Brent Geese are locally numerous winter visitors to Britain & Ireland, found on saltmarshes and adjoining grassy habitats around most of the coast.
Britain & Ireland host individuals from four separate breeding populations. The two Light-bellied Brent Goose populations – from Canada and Svalbard – largely winter on Strangford Lough and Lindisfarne respectively, while the birds wintering elsewhere in Britain come from the Russian Dark-bellied population. A few Black Brants, from Siberia, Alaska or Canada, are recorded most years.
Wintering numbers increased strongly through the 1970s and 1980s, and have fluctuated around this higher level since.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Brent Goose
Identification
Brent Goose identification is usually straightforward.
SONGS AND CALLS
Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Brent Goose, provided by xeno-canto contributors.
Call
Song
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
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 | No |
|
Listed on the Annexes of
|
WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA, NERC (41) |
POPULATION SIZE
| UK (winter) | 135 thousand (2012-17) |
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
1678, Cleveland |
DISTRIBUTION
Brent Geese were recorded in winter from almost the entire coastline of Britain & Ireland, except for north and west Scotland. This overall distribution conceals separate patterns for birds from three different breeding populations. The Canadian Light-bellied population winters predominantly in Ireland. Birds from the Svalbard Light-bellied Brent Goose population winter in Denmark and in Britain, where they winter predominantly around Lindisfarne in Northumberland. The bulk of the Brent Geese that winter elsewhere in Britain are from the arctic Russian-breeding Dark-bellied population.
-
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 617 |
| % occupied in winter | 20 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +69.3% |
SEASONALITY
Brent Goose are common winter visitors to coastal areas, arriving through September. Most birds depart in April but some flocks can remain into May.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
An overview of year-round movements for the whole of Europe can be seen on the EuroBirdPortal viewer.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Brent Goose, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
|
Number of Broods
|
1 |
|
Egg Size
|
75×47 mm Weight = 91 g (of which 8% is shell) |
SURVIVAL & LONGEVITY
View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report
|
Maximum Age from Ringing
|
28 years 2 months 12 days (set in 2001)
|
|
Typical Lifespan
|
11 years with breeding typically at 2 year |
|
Adult Survival
|
0.9±0.036
|
BIOMETRICS
|
Wing Length
|
Adults | 338.2±11.4 | Range 318–350mm, N=22 |
|
Body Weight
|
Adults | 1250±190 | Range 800–1510g, N=34 |
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Ring size
|
G |
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: BG | 5-letter code: BREGO | Euring: 1680 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- Post-release survival of oiled, cleaned seabirds in North America
- Effects of brood parasitism and nest-box placement on wood duck breeding ecology
- Effects of grazing and inundation on pasture quality and seed production in a salt marsh
Read more studies about Brent Goose on Conservation Evidence >
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