How to identify geese

Barnacle Goose

These birds are a contrast of black, white and silvery-blue grey. They are very sociable birds, often seen in large flocks to feed. They migrate from their breeding grounds in Greenland and Svalbard to winter on our coasts and estuaries.

Pink-footed Goose

Around 85% of the world’s population of Pink-footed Geese spend winter with us feeding on estuaries and farmland. Look for their dark head and neck, grey-brown plumage and pink feet and legs. They fly in very large – and loud – flocks!

Brent Goose

Similar size to a Mallard. Very dark with a small white neck patch. There are two sub-species: the dark-bellied (pictured) fly from Siberia and Russia while the pale-bellied breeds in Greenland and Spitsbergen. They fly in wavering lines.

White-fronted Goose

Smaller than a Mute Swan. White patch on the face and black stripes on the belly. Subspecies have different bill colours: birds from Greenland (pictured) have orange bills, Siberian birds have pink bills. Both have orange legs and grey-brown bodies.

Greylag Goose

A large goose with a grey-brown barred back, a pale grey breast and mottled belly. They have white feathers underneath the tail, a large orange bill and light pink legs and feet. Seen feeding on farmland before roosting on estuaries and freshwater lakes.

Tundra Bean Goose

Slightly larger than a Pink-footed, look out for orange legs, brown body and a dark sooty-brown head. The breast has fine barring with a white line along the edge of the folded wings. Their short bill has a yellow-orange patch towards the tip.