Скачать или смотреть Barnacle geese feeding and alarm calling

A flock of barnacle geese feeding at RSPB Mersehead in January 2024. Notice how one bird stays alert to danger while other birds feed. This kind of vigilance behaviour is often seen in large feeding flocks.
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The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized goose with a wingspan of 130-145 cm and a body mass of 1.21-2.23 kg. Here are seven interesting facts about the Barnacle Goose:

1. The Barnacle Goose is named after a myth that it hatches from barnacles attached to ships.

2. The Barnacle Goose is one of the smallest geese, with a relatively small, rounded head and a very short bill.

3. The Barnacle Goose is a winter visitor to the UK, in particular, and grazes on vegetation such as roots, stems, leaves, and seeds.

4. The Barnacle Goose is a sociable goose that flies in packs and long lines, with a noisy chorus of barking or yapping sounds.

5. The Barnacle Goose is classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).

6. The Barnacle Goose has an average lifespan of 14 years.

7. The Barnacle Goose is a migratory bird that nests in Greenland and Svalbard and spends the winter in Scotland, northern England, and Ireland.