Barnacle Goose

A striking goose wintering especially along western and northwestern coasts.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Season first

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go: Mainly autumn to spring, including passage
Where to start: Coastal and island grassland in western and northwestern Ireland; feral birds occur elsewhere.
What to do when you arrive: In winter, view goose flocks on western and northwestern coastal grassland from public viewpoints. Check white faces and black necks without entering fields or closed islands.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes

How to identify it

White face with black crown, neck and breast, barred silver-grey back and pale belly. Shorter-necked than Canada Goose with a whole white face, not just a chinstrap.

Habitat

Grassland, rough pasture, moorland and open fields.

Behaviour

Grazes on island and coastal grassland in close flocks.

When to look

Mainly autumn to spring, including passage

Where to look

Coastal and island grassland in western and northwestern Ireland; feral birds occur elsewhere.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗

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