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Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

Audubon Illustration

Audubon illustration of Barnacle Goose

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

Migration Flyway

Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Barnacle Goose

The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a species of goose that belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with extensive black in the plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. Despite its superficial similarity to the brant goose, genetic analysis has shown its closest relative is the cackling goose.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Branta leucopsis
Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
Order
Anseriformes

Similar species

Other members of the ducks, geese, and waterfowl family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • American Black Duck Anas rubripes
  • American Wigeon Mareca americana
  • Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri
  • Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa
  • Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
  • Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
  • Black Scoter Melanitta americana
  • Black Swan Cygnus atratus
  • Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
  • Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus
  • Blue-billed Teal Spatula hottentota
  • Blue-winged Goose Cyanochen cyanoptera

Know when the Barnacle Goose turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

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Gear for spotting Barnacle Goose

Optics

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Essential for shorebirds, raptors, and anything too far for binoculars. Our tested picks.

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