LC
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 5,700,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 889,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor estimated 2012
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 10.5 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated at c. 880,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 196,000-247,000 pairs, which equates to 392,000-494,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall trend is suspected to be increasing (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is increasing (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Algeria extant vagrant
Austria extant vagrant yes
Belarus extant vagrant
Belgium extant native yes
Bulgaria extant vagrant yes
Canada extant vagrant
Czechia extant vagrant
Denmark extant native yes yes
Egypt extant vagrant
Estonia extant native yes yes
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant native yes
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Greenland (to Denmark) extant native yes
Hungary extant vagrant yes
Iceland extant native yes yes
Ireland extant native yes
Italy extant vagrant
Latvia extant native yes yes
Montenegro extant vagrant
Morocco extant vagrant
Netherlands extant native yes
Norway extant native yes yes
Poland extant native yes
Portugal extant vagrant
Romania extant vagrant yes
Russia extant native yes yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant vagrant
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Serbia extant vagrant
Slovakia extant vagrant
Slovenia extant vagrant
Spain extant vagrant yes
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) extant native yes
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant vagrant
Tunisia extant vagrant
Türkiye extant vagrant
United Kingdom extant native yes yes
USA extant vagrant

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Denmark Ballum og Husum Enge, Kamper strandenge
Denmark Bøtø Nor
Denmark Saltholm
Denmark Tøndermarsken, Magisterkog and Rudbøl Sø
Denmark Vadehavet (Wadden Sea)
Estonia Irbe strait
Estonia Kahtla-Kübassaare
Estonia Karala-Pilguse
Estonia Kõrgessaare-Mudaste coast
Estonia Küdema bay
Estonia Lõu bay
Estonia Luitemaa
Estonia Pärnu bay (NEW)
Estonia Riksu coast
Estonia Siiksaare-Oessaare bays
Estonia Sutu bay
Estonia Väinameri
Estonia Vanamõisa bay
Estonia Vilsandi archipelago
Finland Elimäenjärvi
Finland Kantele-Kurunkulma fields and wetlands
Finland Kirkkonummi archipelago
Finland Konnunsuo
Finland Pyhäjärvi wetlands and fields
Germany Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany Dollart
Germany Dosse-Jäglitz lowlands
Germany Elbe lowlands between Schnackenburg and Lauenburg
Germany Elbe marshes between Stade and Otterndorf
Germany Ems valley between Leer and Emden
Germany Engerhafer Meede
Germany Gandersum/Lange Maar
Germany Geeste lowlands near Bramel
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Groß Fullener Moor
Germany Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Hamme lowlands
Germany Hauke-Haien Koog
Germany Jadebusen, inland
Germany Krummhörn-Westermarsch
Germany Landgraben and Dumme lowlands
Germany Lower Elbe valley
Germany Lower Havel - Lake Schollene - Lake Gülpe
Germany Lower Inn: Haiming - Neuhaus including the Neuhaus, Egglfing, Ering, and Simbach reservoirs
Germany Lower reaches of River Weser, embanked area
Germany Lower Rhine
Germany Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Lowlands of middle Havel
Germany Norden-Esens, inland
Germany Ostfriesische Meere
Germany Pinneberg Elbe lowlands
Germany Rheiderland
Germany Rheinaue Bingen-Ingelheim
Germany Rysumer Nacken
Germany Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (includes the Halligs, Kniepsand/Amrum, Lister Koog, Rantumbecken, Rickelsb
Germany Terborg
Germany Wagbach lowlands
Germany Warder See
Germany Wismar bay and Salzhaff
Germany Wittmund-Wangerland
Greenland (to Denmark) Enhjørningens Dal and Pingel Dal
Greenland (to Denmark) Heden
Greenland (to Denmark) Hochstetter Forland
Greenland (to Denmark) Kjoveland
Greenland (to Denmark) Ørsted Dal and Coloradodal
Greenland (to Denmark) Østersletten and Knudshoved, Hold With Hope
Greenland (to Denmark) South coast of Germania Land, and Slaedelandet
Greenland (to Denmark) Stordal-Moskusoksefjord-Badlanddal-Loch Fyne-Myggbukta
Greenland (to Denmark) Western part of Germania land
Iceland Hop-Vatnsdalur
Iceland Hornafjardarfljot - Hestgerdislon
Iceland Svarfadardalur
Ireland Ardboline Island and Horse Island
Ireland Broadhaven, Blacksod and Tullaghan Bays and parts of the Mullet peninsula
Ireland Connemara Islands
Ireland Drumcliff Bay and Ballintemple
Ireland Dunfanaghy New Lake
Ireland Inishbofin and Inishshark (including Davillaun)
Ireland Inishkea Islands
Ireland Inishkeeragh and Illancrone
Ireland Rathlin O'Birne
Ireland Trawbreaga Bay
Lithuania Nemunas delta regional Park
Netherlands Alde Feanen
Netherlands Biesbosch
Netherlands Broekvelden, Vettenbroek & Polder Stein
Netherlands Deelen
Netherlands Eilandspolder
Netherlands Grevelingen
Netherlands Groote Wielen
Netherlands Haringvliet
Netherlands Krammer-Volkerak
Netherlands Lake IJsselmeer
Netherlands Lauwersmeer
Netherlands Markermeer & IJmeer
Netherlands Markiezaat
Netherlands Midden Delfland & Oude Leede
Netherlands Oenkerk, Giekerk e.o.
Netherlands Oosterschelde
Netherlands Oostvaardersplassen
Netherlands Opsterland & Smallingerland
Netherlands Oudegaasterbrekken, Fluessen e.o.
Netherlands Oudeland van Strijen
Netherlands Rijntakken
Netherlands Sneekermeergebied
Netherlands Wadden Sea
Netherlands Wonseradeel & Workum
Netherlands Wormer- en Jisperveld & Kalverpolder
Norway Andøya (including Skogvoll)
Norway Langøya
Norway Nordre Øyeren & Sørumsneset
Norway Øksnes
Norway Selvær
Norway Tenna & Herøy
Norway Vega archipelago
Russia (European) Berezoviye islands of Vyborg Bay
Russia (European) Kanin peninsula (watershed of Yazhma and Nyes' rivers)
Russia (European) Kolguev island
Russia (European) Kurgalski Peninsula
Russia (European) Olonets plain
Russia (European) Seskar island
Russia (European) Torna-Shoina watershed
Russia (European) Unskaya bay
Russia (European) Vaygach island
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Adventdalen & Adventfjorden
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Bjørnøya (Bear Island)
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Forlandet National Park
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Inner parts of Kongsfjorden
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Midterhuken & Eholmen
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Nordenskiöldkysten
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Nordre Isfjorden
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Northwest Spitsbergen National Park
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Sassen-Bünsow Land
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) South Spitsbergen National Park
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve
Sweden Archipelago and coastline of North-East Scania
Sweden Bay of Rynninge
Sweden Bay of Strandstugu
Sweden Coastal area (including seaside meadows) of Eastern Öland
Sweden Coastal area of Eastern Gotland
Sweden Falsterbo – Bay of Fote
Sweden Fjord of Båta
Sweden Lake Tåkern
Sweden Lomma Bight
Sweden Ottenby
Sweden River Helge
United Kingdom Bridgend Flats, Islay
United Kingdom Coll
United Kingdom Eilean na Muice Duibh, Islay
United Kingdom Eoligarry, Barra
United Kingdom Firth of Forth
United Kingdom Gruinart Flats
United Kingdom Laggan Peninsula
United Kingdom Lindisfarne
United Kingdom Loch of Strathbeg
United Kingdom Monach Islands
United Kingdom North Colonsay and Western Cliffs
United Kingdom North Sutherland Coastal Islands
United Kingdom Rinns of Islay
United Kingdom Shiant Isles
United Kingdom South Walls and Switha
United Kingdom Uists Machairs, Lochs and Coast
United Kingdom Upper Solway Flats and Marshes

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable non-breeding
Grassland Tundra major breeding
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Rocky Shoreline major breeding
Marine Intertidal Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Tidepools major breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Other household goods subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/barnacle-goose-branta-leucopsis on 27/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 27/12/2024.