Barnacle Goose 199527 223708200 2008-07-05T11:03:56Z MeegsC 4173712 /* External links */ moved commons link to reduce white space {{Taxobox | name = Barnacle Goose | status = LC | image = Branta leucopsis.jpg | image_width = 240px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[bird|Aves]] | ordo = [[Anseriformes]] | familia = [[Anatidae]] | genus = ''[[Branta]]'' | species = '''''B. leucopsis''''' | binomial = ''Branta leucopsis'' | binomial_authority = ([[Johann Matthäus Bechstein|Bechstein]], [[1803]]) }} The '''Barnacle Goose''' (''Branta leucopsis'') belongs to the [[genus]] ''Branta'' of black [[goose|geese]], which contains [[species]] with largely black [[plumage]], distinguishing them from the grey ''[[Anser (genus)|Anser]]'' species. Despite its superficial similarity to the [[Brent Goose]], genetic analysis has shown it is an eastern derivative of the [[Cackling Goose]] lineage. ==Description== [[Image:BrantaLeucopsisFilghtB.jpg|thumb|left|In flight]] The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized goose with a white face and black head, neck, and upper breast. Its belly is white. The wings and its back are silver-gray with black-and-white bars. During flight a V-shaped white rump patch and the silver-gray underwing linings are visible. ==Distribution== [[Image:A flock of barnacle geese in Helsinki, Finland.jpg|thumb|Right|A flock of barnacle geese feeding at [[Helsinki]], Finland]] Barnacle Geese breed mainly on the Arctic islands of the [[North Atlantic]]. There are three main populations, with separate breeding and wintering ranges; from west to east: *Breeding in eastern [[Greenland]], wintering on the [[Hebrides]] of western [[Scotland]] and in western [[Ireland]]. Population about 40,000. *Breeding on [[Svalbard]], wintering on the [[Solway Firth]] on the [[England]]/Scotland border. Population about 24,000. *Breeding on [[Novaya Zemlya]], wintering in the [[Netherlands]]. Population about 130,000. *A new fourth population, derived from the Novaya Zemlya population, has become established since [[1975]] breeding on the [[Baltic Sea]] islands ([[Estonia]], [[Finland]], [[Denmark]], and [[Sweden]]), and wintering in the Netherlands. Population about 8,000. Small numbers of feral birds, derived from escapes from [[zoo]] collections, also breed in other north European countries. Occasionally, a wild bird will appear in the Northeastern [[United States]] or [[Canada]], but care must be taken to separate out wild birds from escaped individuals, as Barnacle Geese are popular waterfowl with collectors. ==Ecology, behavior and life history== [[Image:MigrationFlock.jpg|left|thumb|Flock on autumn migration]] Barnacle Geese frequently build their nests high on mountain [[cliff]]s; away from predators (primarily [[Arctic Fox]]es and [[Polar Bear]]s) but also away from food. Like all geese, the goslings are not fed by the adults. Instead of bringing food to the newly hatched goslings, the goslings are brought to the ground. Unable to fly, the three day old goslings jump off the cliff and fall; their small size, feathery down, and very light weight helps to protect some of them from serious injury when they hit the rocks below, but many die from the impact. Arctic foxes are attracted by the noise made by the parent geese during this time and capture many dead or injured goslings. The foxes also stalk the young as they are led by the parents to wetland feeding areas. Its call is a "kaw". ==Conservation== The Barnacle Goose is one of the species to which the ''Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds'' ([[AEWA]]) applies.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} ==Folklore== [[Image:Barnacle Geese Fac simile of an Engraving on Wood from the Cosmographie Universelle of Munster folio Basle 1552.png|left|thumb|Barnacle Geese. Facsimile of an Engraving on Wood, from the "Cosmographie Universelle" of Munster, folio, Basle, 1552.]] The [[English language|English]] name of this species, and the scientific name of the Brent Goose (''B. bernicla'') and the [[Gooseneck barnacle|Goose Barnacle]], come from the fable that Barnacle Geese were produced from [[barnacle]]s, organisms that grow on timber exposed to salt water. This belief stemmed from the observation that these geese were never seen in summer, when they were supposedly developing underwater (they were actually breeding in remote Arctic regions). The barnacles and the geese shared similar black and white colours, plus a certain type of barnacle looked - with a bit of imagination - like a tiny black and white goose. The geese and the barnacles appeared in different seasons. Though the issue was controversial, it was an important part of [[medieval cuisine]] because it enabled [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholics]] to classify these geese as fish and therefore to eat their flesh during [[Lent]]. {{-}} ==Bibliography== * {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=47150|title=Branta leucopsis|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{commons|Branta leucopsis|Barnacle Goose}} *[http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/b/barnaclegoose/index.asp RSPB A to Z of UK Birds] * [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=432 Barnacle Goose videos] on the Internet Bird Collection [[Category:Geese]] [[Category:Branta]] [[Category:Birds of Europe]] [[Category:Arctic birds]] [[Category:Birds of the Faroe Islands]] [[Category:British Isles coastal fauna|Goose, Barnacle]] [[bg:Белобуза гъска]] [[cy:Gŵydd Wyran]] [[de:Weißwangengans]] [[et:Valgepõsk-lagle]] [[es:Branta leucopsis]] [[eo:Blankvanga ansero]] [[fr:Bernache nonnette]] [[gl:Ganso sangano]] [[is:Helsingi]] [[it:Branta leucopsis]] [[lt:Baltaskruostė berniklė]] [[hu:Apácalúd]] [[nl:Brandgans]] [[ja:カオジロガン]] [[no:Hvitkinngås]] [[pl:Bernikla białolica]] [[se:Vilgesnierčuonjá]] [[fi:Valkoposkihanhi]] [[sv:Vitkindad gås]] [[tr:Ak yanaklı kaz]] [[zea:Brandhanze]]