Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchus - Oie à bec court

Systematics

Order
:
Anseriformes
Family
:
Anatidés
Genus
:
Anser
Species
:
brachyrhynchus

Descriptor

Baillon, 1834

Biometrics

Size
: 75 cm
Wingspan
: 135 à 170 cm.
Weight
: 1450 à 3860 g

Longevity

22 years

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

The Pink-footed Goose is a grey goose that looks similar to the Tundra Goose. Like it, it has a rather rounded head that is fairly dark brown and a rather short, high-based beak. Distinguishing between them is relatively easy from a reasonable distance. Look at the colour of the coloured ring around the beak; black in general, but pink on the Pink-footed Goose and orange on the Tundra Goose. Just a head sticking out from a group or outcrop is usually enough for identification. Being able to see its feet is a bonus; pink on the Pink-footed Goose, orange on the other. Identifying them in flight, however, is much more difficult. The plumage is paler and more grey on the Pink-footed Goose, though this can vary depending on the light. Generally speaking, it has the palest overall upperparts, particularly on the scapulars and tertials. Also note the relatively short neck (which is similar to the Greylag Goose), a dark head and neck in contrast (which is similar to the Tundra Goose), a pale grey bow (similar to the Brent Goose) and much more white in the black and white pattern of the tail.

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

Oie à bec court,
Ánsar piquicorto,
ganso-de-bico-curto,
Kurzschnabelgans,
rövidcsőrű lúd,
Kleine Rietgans,
Oca zamperosee,
spetsbergsgås,
Kortnebbgås,
hus krátkozobá,
husa krátkozobá,
Kortnæbbet Gås,
lyhytnokkahanhi,
oca de bec curt,
Heiðagæs,
gęś krótkodzioba,
īsknābja zoss,
kratkokljuna gos,
Короткоклювый гуменник,
コザクラバシガン,
粉脚雁,
粉腳雁,

Voice song and cries

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pause

The ha ha and quik quik calls are typically Pink-footed Goose, but with a higher pitch than those of the Tundra Goose, though the difference is quite subtle.

Habitat

The Pink-footed Goose is a species of the Arctic tundra. Two environmental conditions determine its presence during the summer months.

It needs herb-covered valleys or depressions to feed on, such as wet meadows. For reproduction, it strives for rugged, high-altitude locations, such as rocky outcrops, ravines and gorges, presumably for protection purposes. On islands where the selection is limited and the danger is the same, it can nest in open tundra.
In winter, it moves closer to the coast and joins other geese in the coastal agricultural lands. It particularly loves lush meadows and cereal fields.

Behaviour character trait

Like all geese, the Pink-footed Goose regains its gregarious instinct after reproduction. Even before, since families with still downy goslings gather and form collective crèches, again for protection.

Much later, when migration time comes, they will leave in groups to go to wintering grounds and will stay together all winter, and likely return together towards their original sites when springtime approaches. Their wintering grounds are around the North Sea.
It is not rare for individuals, usually isolated, to take their independence and find themselves in unusual places for the species. Thus Pink-footed Geese have already been observed multiple times on the Island of Ouessant. Others appear along the French Atlantic coast or even far inland from the coast, like on the big bodies of water of Grand Est. Some may have been pulled along by other geese, such as the Greylag Goose.

Flight

A typical flight of Pink-footed Goose with compact but powerful beats giving enough power for long-range migrations. As with all geese, the long-distance flights are usually organized in a V-formation, with a regular rotation of the lead bird. This way of traveling allows for an energy-saving, with each bird on a line benefitting from the air-flow created by the one before it.

Dietfeeding habits

Like other greylag geese, the Pink-footed Goose is an exclusive vegetarian. During its stay in the tundra, it feeds on elements taken from terrestrial and aquatic herbaceous plants, as well as bushes, leaves, buds, young shoots, rhizomes, fruiting bodies, seeds and berries.

It knows how to dig up the rhizomes of the Polygonaceae, such as bistorta. The consumption of berries such as those of the Ericaceae Empetrum nigrum will provide it with energy before migrating.
In winter, it fully enjoys agricultural land. It frequents meadow parks as well as fields of cereals. It has a weakness for potato tubers left on the field.
Geese have a bad reputation for nibbling cereal shoots, but this may not be justified. Indeed, some biologists think that this selective mowing actually contributes to increasing the productivity of winter cereals.

Reproduction nesting

The nest is a depression filled with mosses and lichens, the inner bowl being lined before laying with the ventral down of the female. She lays 4 to 5 white eggs there which she will incubate alone for 25 to 28 days. The young will fly at around 3 months of age.

Geographic range

The Pink-footed Goose has a limited distribution. It is only found breeding in East Greenland, Iceland and Spitsbergen. It spends the winter on the coasts of the countries bordering the North Sea and the Irish Sea on the English side.