Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)
Identification
Listen to the brent goose bird call
Listen to the brent goose alarm call
The Brent Goose is the smallest goose species we have, similar in size to a mallard duck. You can identify them from their dark silhouette consisting of a black head and neck, black chunky beak, grey and white front, black tail and white rump. They also often have a white ring on the neck.
They regularly gather in large flocks on our coastlines, which makes them easy to locate when in the right place. You may even hear them before you see them when they are in their large gaggles.
Other Information
Migration Routes
Brent Geese depart their home in the Siberian Arctic in autumn to complete their 3000 mile long migration to the East Kent coastline for winter.
You can expect to see them on our coastlines from late October into early November all the way to late February to early March when they prepare to complete the migration back to Russia for the summer breeding seasons! Their numbers peak in January during the coldest parts of winter.
Discover more about the daring dozen migratory birds found in East Kent
Birds that have made the perilous journey to feed on our coast. Click on each image to find out more.
