Species:

Brant Goose (Branta bernicla)

Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
56-61
50-71
Wingspan (cm):
110-120
80-108
Weight (gram):
1300-1600
1500-2800
Size group:
Bigger than a crow
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
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:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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:

Large diving duck with elongated, triangular head profile and short neck. Male: white upperparts and black belly, black cap and two light green patches at back of head. Females are mostly barred in brown. Differs from King Eider by extended feathering on light tipped bill, triangular head profile with less steep forehead and lack of v-barred flanks. Flying birds gives a more elongated impression than King Eiders.

Sound:

Males call a typical, pleasant, clear, 2-3 second long "aaaooooooh". Starting on a low note, slowly ascending and ending on a descending note. Usually accompanied by the female "ga ga ga ga".

Display-call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


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

CC-photo:Paul Williams www.IronAmmonitePhotography.com, Licence,Link.

Sounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Duck-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file