Honks › Canada, barnacle, brent and Egyptian geese
Canada, barnacle, brent and Egyptian geese
These four are easy to recognise once you know what to look for, but they have very different stories: one introduced, one wild coastal visitor, one Arctic winterer and one African escapee.
Canada goose
The Canada goose is probably the goose most people know from park lakes. It has a black head and neck with a white chin strap, a brown body and a pale breast. It is large, noisy and often tame. It was introduced to Britain and is now widespread all year round.
- Look for: Black neck, white "chin strap", brown back, black bill and legs.
- Where: Parks, reservoirs, lakes and fields. The RSPB notes Canada geese often mix with greylags in southern Britain's gravel pits and lakes.
- Confusion: Barnacle geese also have a black neck, but their face is white, not a chin strap.
Barnacle goose
A handsome black-and-white goose with a creamy white face, black neck and chest, and a grey back with barred feathers. The wild barnacle geese in the UK are winter visitors. WWT Caerlaverock says they migrate from Svalbard in the Arctic Circle to spend winter at the reserve on the Solway Firth, and describes thousands of them rising and flying overhead. Feral barnacle geese also live in some parts of England, and these stay all year.
- Look for: A white face, black neck and breast, silver-grey barred back.
- Where: The Solway Firth and Islay for the largest wintering flocks; scattered feral birds elsewhere.
- Sound: A yapping, dog-like bark that carries a long way.
Brent goose
The RSPB describes a small, dark goose, about the size of a mallard, with a black head and neck and a grey-brown back. The belly is pale or dark depending on the subspecies. Adults have a small white neck patch and a short black bill. They fly in loose coastal flocks, unlike the tight skeins of grey geese.
- Habitat: Estuaries, saltmarshes and mudflats, feeding on eelgrass, marine algae and saltmarsh plants. Some in southern England also feed on grassland.
- Status: Amber in the UK. The global population is stable, but brent geese rely heavily on protected coastal habitats, which face threats from development and climate change. The Amber listing reflects the large numbers found at only a few sites.
- Where to see: The RSPB lists Langstone Harbour, Medmerry, Frampton Marsh and Wallasea Island, among others.
Egyptian goose
Despite the name it is more closely related to shelducks than to true geese. It has a pale brown body, a dark brown patch around each eye, a pinkish bill and long pink legs, and a chestnut patch on the breast. In flight it shows white wing patches. Egyptian geese came from Africa as ornamental birds and have established wild populations in parts of England, especially East Anglia. They are noisy, and they often nest in trees or on buildings.
- Look for: Brown eye-patches, long legs and a lanky build, often seen standing on a bank or in a field.
- Where: Lakes, rivers and parkland in the east of England, and slowly spreading.
Summary table
| Goose | Origin in the UK | Key clue |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Introduced, now resident | Black neck, white chin strap |
| Barnacle | Wild winter visitor; feral birds too | White face, black neck |
| Brent | Wild winter visitor | Small, dark, coastal |
| Egyptian | Introduced from Africa | Brown eye-patch, long legs |
Wild, feral or introduced?
Birdwatchers distinguish truly wild birds from feral ones, which descend from captive stock, and from introduced species. Canada and Egyptian geese are introduced. Some barnacle and greylag geese are feral, and some are wild. These distinctions matter for bird records and the law, but you do not have to worry about them to enjoy watching. If you are logging sightings for a survey, such as the BTO's BirdTrack, note whether the bird looked tame or wild if you can.
For the grey species, read grey geese ID. For places to watch them, see where to see wild geese.
Frequently asked questions
Are Canada geese native to the UK?
No. They were introduced from North America and are now widespread across the UK all year round.
Where do barnacle geese come from?
WWT Caerlaverock says the geese that winter on the Solway migrate from Svalbard in the Arctic Circle.
Are brent geese rare?
They are on the UK Amber list because large numbers gather at only a few coastal sites, but where they occur flocks can be big and easy to see.