Overview

The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a small, striking Arctic-breeding goose known for its bold black‑and‑white plumage, dramatic nesting habits, and a long history of medieval myths about its origins. It breeds mainly in Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, and parts of Russia, and winters in northern Europe.

Distribution & Habitat

Barnacle geese form several distinct breeding–wintering populations:

• Greenland → Scotland/Ireland: Grew from ~7,000 in the 1960s to 44,000 by 2011.
• Iceland (new population): Established since 1964; now 4,000+ breeding pairs (2024).
• Svalbard → Solway Firth (UK): Winters almost entirely on the England/Scotland border.
• Baltic Sea region: Smaller, more localized breeders.
• Rare but increasing visitor to eastern North America, usually mixed with Canada Geese.

Diet/Foraging

Barnacle geese are grass specialists. In short:

• They mainly eat grasses and sedges year‑round.
• In the Arctic summer they add herbs, mosses, willow leaves, and fresh shoots.
• Before migration they boost energy with seeds and berries.
• In winter they graze intensively on pastures and farmland grasses.

Their foraging style is fast, ground‑based grazing, usually in flocks.s.

Breeding & Nesting

Barnacle geese breed in the Arctic, where they form long‑term monogamous pairs and nest in tight colonies on cliffs or small offshore islands to avoid predators. The female builds a simple nest of vegetation lined with her own down and lays 3–5 eggs, which she incubates for about 24–28 days while the male stands guard nearby. Once the chicks hatch, they leave the nest almost immediately—and follow their parents to feeding areas, where they feed themselves but remain under close parental protection until they are strong enough for migration.