Barnacle Goose

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Coastal grassland (winter).
Diet: Grass.
Best time to spot: Pied face; Solway/Islay flocks.

When to look

A winter visitor, typically in the UK from October through to April. Numbers peak in January. See the January birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in UK winter wildfowl.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Barnacle Goose sits in our Uncommon tier for the UK: regular, but you usually need the right place or the right season. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK.

Where to see it

Reserves where the Barnacle Goose is on the list:

• WWT Caerlaverock
• Islay

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Brent GooseUncommon · Coastal mudflats
• Light-bellied Brent GooseUncommon · Mudflats (winter)
• Cackling GooseEpic · Wet grassland (vagrant)
• Red-breasted GooseEpic · Wet grassland (rare visitor)
• Black BrantRare · Mudflats (rare race)
• Canada GooseCommon · Lakes

Kit that helps

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