Brent Goose
Branta bernicla
Length 56-61cm

A small goose, barely larger than mallard. Winter visitor to Britain and Ireland from Arctic breeding grounds; present from October to March. Adult has black head and neck with small white collar; juvenile lacks collar in first half of winter. Dark-bellied race from Siberia winters mainly in S and E England while pale-bellied race from Spitzbergen and Greenland winters mainly in NE England and Ireland. Always found on estuaries and sheltered coasts. Diet mainly eelgrass but in late winter will feed on stubble or coastal grassland. Seen in large, noisy flocks, two important locations being Solent and N Norfolk coast.