White-fronted Goose

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White-fronted Goose in the UK

A winter visitor that does not breed in the UK. Two races come here. Greenland birds, 10,000 to 12,000 of them, winter in western and northern Scotland and Northern Ireland. Russian birds, now only 1,000 to 2,000, winter mainly in southern England. Both are declining. The Russian race fell by 75% between 1996/97 and 2021/22, as more birds stop short on the near Continent in milder winters. The Greenland race has also dropped sharply over 25 years, though the fall has slowed. Red listed.

Where and when to see a White-fronted Goose

For Greenland birds go to Islay between October and March: RSPB Loch Gruinart is the easiest place, with flocks on the fields from the roadside. Smaller flocks use other west Scottish sites and RSPB Broubster Leans in Caithness. For Russian birds try WWT Slimbridge on the Severn, RSPB North Warren in Suffolk, the north Norfolk grazing marshes and the North Kent Marshes. Numbers in England are highest in January and February, and cold easterly spells bring extra birds across the North Sea.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Wet meadows (winter).
Diet: Grass, grain.
Field note: White forehead blaze.

How to identify a White-fronted Goose

A medium-sized grey goose, smaller and darker than a Greylag, with orange legs. Adults have a white blaze around the base of the bill and bold black bars across the belly, different on every bird. Juveniles lack both until late winter. Russian birds have a pink bill. Greenland birds are darker and longer-necked, with a longer orange bill. In flight the wings look plain and dark, without the pale grey forewing of Greylag and Pink-footed Goose.

Call and song

Higher and more musical than other grey geese: a quick, laughing, yelping 'kyu-yu-yu'. Flocks sound bright and almost giggling compared with the deep honk of Greylags. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Greylag Goose: Greylag is bigger and paler with a heavy orange bill, pink legs and a pale grey forewing, and has no bold belly bars.
• Pink-footed Goose: Pink-footed Goose has a dark head, a short dark bill with a pink band, pink legs and no white blaze.
• Lesser White-fronted Goose: Lesser White-front is smaller with a yellow eye ring and a white blaze that runs up onto the crown.

Month by month

A winter visitor, typically in the UK from October through to March. Numbers peak in January. See the January birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in UK winter wildfowl.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the White-fronted Goose is an Uncommon tier bird, worth +3 points when you log one. It is Red-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the highest level of concern in the UK.

Where to see it

Reserves where the White-fronted Goose is on the list:

• Islay
• WWT Slimbridge

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Pink-footed GooseUncommon · Stubble
• Lesser White-fronted GooseEpic · Wet meadows (very rare)
• Taiga Bean GooseRare · Damp fields (winter)
• Tundra Bean GooseRare · Damp fields (winter)
• Ross's GooseLegendary · Goose flocks
• Greater Snow GooseEpic · Wet grassland (very rare)

White-fronted Goose: quick answers

Where can I see a White-fronted Goose in the UK?

Islay holds the largest flocks of Greenland birds and is the surest place. In England the Severn at Slimbridge has been the traditional home of the Russian race, though the flock there is a fraction of what it was. Lone birds and small parties also turn up among other geese on the east coast.

What is the difference between Greenland and Russian White-fronted Geese?

Bill colour is the quickest check: orange on Greenland birds, pink on Russian birds. Greenland birds are also darker, with heavier belly barring on average. Where you are helps. In western Scotland or Northern Ireland expect Greenland, in southern and eastern England expect Russian.

What does a White-fronted Goose eat?

Grass above all, plus clover, winter cereals, spilt grain and waste potatoes. Greenland birds traditionally fed on bogs, pulling up the roots and shoots of cotton-grass and other bog plants, and some flocks still do.

Kit that helps

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