Pink-footed Geese (Anser brachyrhynchus)
[order] Anseriformes | [family] Anatidae | [latin] Anser brachyrhynchus | [UK] Pink-footed Goose | [FR] Oie à bec court | [DE] Kurzschnabelgans | [ES] Ánsar de Pico Corto | [IT] Oca delle zampe rosse | [NL] Kleine Rietgans
spanwidth min.: 137 cm
spanwidth max.: 161 cm
size min.: 64 cm
size max.: 76 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 26 days
incubation max.: 27 days
fledging min.: 52 days
fledging max.: 60 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 3
eggs max.: 6
Physical characteristics
Medium-sized, rather compact, rather short-billed and short-necked, essentially pinkish-grey goose, with dark, round head and foreneck and pale forewing obvious in flight. Bill marks and legs pink.
Habitat
Concentrated largely in the Atlantic sector of west Palearctic. The presence in breeding habitat (up to 700 m above sea) is limited to brief and uncertain ice-free period. Strict attachment to parts of apparently suitable terrain, at mean densities above 130 nests per square km. Preference in Iceland for inaccessible nest-sites in river gorges suggests safety from ground predators is a primary requirement. Apparent inconsistency of wide-spread grouping of oasis nests on low heathy mounds or ridges perhaps due to relative failure of such predators to reach these seasonally uninhabitable uplands. In Spitsbergen, where predation of Arctic Fox is minimal, nest on flat ground or grassy slopes when snow-free at laying time, as well as low cliffs and rock outcrops.
Other details
Anser brachyrhynchus breeds only in Svalbard, Iceland and east Greenland, with the entire global breeding range hence confined to Europe. The European breeding population is relatively small (<69,000 pairs), but increased substantially between 1970-1990. All three populations continued to increase during 1990-2000, and the species underwent a moderate increase overall.
This goose has two distinct populations. Both have undergone an important increase since the 1950's. The first population is breeding in Iceland and Greenland, and wintering in Scotland and northern England. It amounts to 225000 individuals. The second population is breeding on Svalbard and wintering in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium. It amounts to 34000 individuals
Feeding
Vegetable material, including parts of plants both above and below ground. Feeds like Greylag Goose, though much less commonly in water, and smaller Bill and gizzard tend to restrict it to softer material. In summer quarters, eats green parts, roots, and fruits of wide variety of tundra plants. In winter quarters, now feeds mainly on farmland, including grassland, but exact composition of diet differs according to local, seasonal, and annual variations in crop-plant availability.
Breeding
Egg-laying in Iceland from early or mid-May, in Spitsbergen laying starts last half May and completed first half June. The nest is build in low hummocks and banks snow-free at time of building, and above post-thaw floods. Also tops of rock outcrops, ledges on river gorge cliffs, and tops of rock pinnacles in gorges. The nest consists of low mound of grasses, sedges and other vegetation, with shallow cup. Large amounts of down added during and after laying. Clutch is usually usually 3-6, incubation lasts 26-27 days and the goslings will flegde after about 56 days.
Migration
Migratory, Greenland and Icelandic populations winter mostly in Scotland and N and E England; Svalbard birds winter along E shores of N Sea. Sporadically in more southern latitudes during cold winters.
Pink-footed Geese (Anser brachyrhynchus)
[order] Anseriformes | [family] Anatidae | [latin] Anser brachyrhynchus | [UK] Pink-footed Goose | [FR] Oie à bec court | [DE] Kurzschnabelgans | [ES] Ánsar de Pico Corto | [IT] Oca delle zampe rosse | [NL] Kleine Rietgans
spanwidth min.: 137 cm
spanwidth max.: 161 cm
size min.: 64 cm
size max.: 76 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 26 days
incubation max.: 27 days
fledging min.: 52 days
fledging max.: 60 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 3
eggs max.: 6
Physical characteristics
Medium-sized, rather compact, rather short-billed and short-necked, essentially pinkish-grey goose, with dark, round head and foreneck and pale forewing obvious in flight. Bill marks and legs pink.
Habitat
Concentrated largely in the Atlantic sector of west Palearctic. The presence in breeding habitat (up to 700 m above sea) is limited to brief and uncertain ice-free period. Strict attachment to parts of apparently suitable terrain, at mean densities above 130 nests per square km. Preference in Iceland for inaccessible nest-sites in river gorges suggests safety from ground predators is a primary requirement. Apparent inconsistency of wide-spread grouping of oasis nests on low heathy mounds or ridges perhaps due to relative failure of such predators to reach these seasonally uninhabitable uplands. In Spitsbergen, where predation of Arctic Fox is minimal, nest on flat ground or grassy slopes when snow-free at laying time, as well as low cliffs and rock outcrops.
Other details
Anser brachyrhynchus breeds only in Svalbard, Iceland and east Greenland, with the entire global breeding range hence confined to Europe. The European breeding population is relatively small (<69,000 pairs), but increased substantially between 1970-1990. All three populations continued to increase during 1990-2000, and the species underwent a moderate increase overall.
This goose has two distinct populations. Both have undergone an important increase since the 1950's. The first population is breeding in Iceland and Greenland, and wintering in Scotland and northern England. It amounts to 225000 individuals. The second population is breeding on Svalbard and wintering in Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium. It amounts to 34000 individuals
Feeding
Vegetable material, including parts of plants both above and below ground. Feeds like Greylag Goose, though much less commonly in water, and smaller Bill and gizzard tend to restrict it to softer material. In summer quarters, eats green parts, roots, and fruits of wide variety of tundra plants. In winter quarters, now feeds mainly on farmland, including grassland, but exact composition of diet differs according to local, seasonal, and annual variations in crop-plant availability.
Breeding
Egg-laying in Iceland from early or mid-May, in Spitsbergen laying starts last half May and completed first half June. The nest is build in low hummocks and banks snow-free at time of building, and above post-thaw floods. Also tops of rock outcrops, ledges on river gorge cliffs, and tops of rock pinnacles in gorges. The nest consists of low mound of grasses, sedges and other vegetation, with shallow cup. Large amounts of down added during and after laying. Clutch is usually usually 3-6, incubation lasts 26-27 days and the goslings will flegde after about 56 days.
Migration
Migratory, Greenland and Icelandic populations winter mostly in Scotland and N and E England; Svalbard birds winter along E shores of N Sea. Sporadically in more southern latitudes during cold winters.