Brent goose

Scientific name: Branta bernicla

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small dark goose with a black head, neck, and upper body contrasting sharply with white undertail coverts and a white neck patch or collar. Pale-bellied and dark-bellied subspecies exist with geographic variation.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 1.2–2.0 kg; body length 55–66 cm. Sexes similar in size and plumage.

Habitat

Brent geese inhabit coastal saltmarshes, estuaries, mudflats, and shallow bays during winter and migration. They breed in high Arctic tundra with low vegetation near water.

Distribution

Northern hemisphere; breeds in Russian and North American Arctic tundra. Winters along temperate coastlines of western Europe, Atlantic coast of North America, and Pacific regions; concentrates in estuaries and sheltered bays.

Diet

Feeds primarily on eelgrass and other marine algae in winter; grazes on grass and clover in spring and autumn, and Arctic vegetation during breeding season.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious, often in flocks of dozens to hundreds. Diurnal and crepuscular feeders, moving between roost sites (shallow water) and feeding grounds. Strong directional migrants with predictable flight corridors.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings and feeding signs on saltmarsh grasses and mudflats; birds often follow the same flyways and feeding routes daily. Approach from downwind across open flats or use tidal creeks for concealment. Decoys and call mimicry are effective; birds respond well to wounded-goose calls and feeding chuckles, especially during arrival and departure periods.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.