Appearance:

A small, dark goose. Thin white collar on adults, juveniles with all black neck. Seems all black from a distance, except for the white vent. Easily told from Barnacle Goose by the lack of contrast between neck and belly, even at long distance. Subspecies hrota, bernicla and nigricans can be distinguished by plumage characters. B.b.hrota: Brownish rather than dark grey belly, and pale between legs. B.b.bernicla: Grey part of belly also reaching behind and between legs. B.b.nigricans: Almost black belly. "Necklace" more distinct, reaching to the front of neck.

Sound:

A bubbling, trembling, ascending, three syllable "ahrahrrhit", quite different from other geese.

Contact call:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Jens kirkeby,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Appearance:

Most likely to be confused with Bar-tailed Godwit, but easily recognized in flight by its contrasting black and white wings and tail. More difficult to identify when not flying. Generally much leggier, more elegant and upright than Bar-tailed, and with straighter bill. Tibia especially long. Summer plumage with barred/spotted belly (never in Bar-tailed), and orange base of bill. Juveniles with scaled back, not arrow-shaped streaking. Adult winter with mainly uniformly grey plumage, and short supercilium not reaching behind the eye.

Sound:

Quite vocal at breeding ground, but mostly silent elsewhere. Varied repertoire of mewing and sharp sounds, some resembling Bar-tailed, some almost lapwing-like. Most characteristic call is the display call; a sharp and mewing, rhythmic "kew-ku-weeewee". Generally the calls are evenly accentuated (as opposed to Bar-tailed).

Display call and contact calls:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Patrick Åberg,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license