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Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchusOrder: ANSERIFORMES Family: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Codes: Common Name: PFGO Scientific Name: ANSBRA ITIS Taxonomic No.: 175036
Least Concern
 
Pink-footed Goose
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Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
Charm and Attraction
Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Pink-footed Goose: Short-necked goose with blue gray mantle and wing coverts, white belly, dark brown head, neck. Pale feather tips produce barring on flanks and upperparts. Pink legs and feet. Bill is pink with a brown tip and base. Swift direct flight with strong wing beats. Flies in V formation.

Range and Habitat

Pink-footed Goose: Native of Greenland found mainly in open tundra and rocky country. Rare accidental to Newfoundland and northern Altantic Coast.

Topo Map: Duck-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"ung, ung", "wink, wink"

Interesting Facts

 In 1951, Sir Peter Scott and his team made an expedition to Iceland to seek the breeding grounds of the Pink-footed Goose, which they were successful in discovering.

 They are more susceptible to disturbance than Greylag Geese and it is interesting that populations in these areas declined during the first half of the 20th century due to increased disturbance and wildfowling but increased significantly when the areas in question became nature reserves.

 The main threat to Pink-footed Geese is the destruction of breeding habitat, particularly proposed hydroelectric schemes in Iceland which may flood large areas used for breeding, feeding and molting.

 A group of geese has many collective nouns, including a "blizzard", "chevron", "knot", "plump", and "string" of geese.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Jane Wright Splitbar
Range Map for Pink-footed Goose

Related Birds

Canada Goose
Brant
Emperor Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Bean Goose
.
Family Geese (Anatidae)_blue
Species Anser brachyrhynchus
Length26 Inches
Wingspan60 Inches

Pink-footed Goose

Pink-footed Goose: Short-necked goose with blue gray mantle and wing coverts, white belly, dark brown head, neck. Pale feather tips produce barring on flanks and upperparts. Pink legs and feet. Bill is pink with a brown tip and base. Swift direct flight with strong wing beats. Flies in V formation.

● Song: "ung, ung", "wink, wink"

● Foraging & Feeding: Pink-footed Goose: Eats grass and aquatic vegetation in summer. Feeds on grains, grasses, and potatoes in winter.

● Breeding & nesting: Pink-footed Goose: Three to five creamy white eggs, incubated for 26 to 27 days by the female in a shallow scrape on the ground lined with moss and down.

● Similar species: Pink-footed Goose: Greater White-fronted Goose has larger pink to orange bill, orange legs and white patch at base of bill.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight with strong wing beats.
Pink-footed Goose Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Pink-footed Goose: Native of Greenland found mainly in open tundra and rocky country. Rare accidental to Newfoundland and northern Altantic Coast.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationRare to accidental
MigrationMigratory
Weight97.6 Ounces
Duck-like BodyX
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
MantleX
The upper surface of the back and wings covered with shorter feathers.
Wing covertsX
The feathers that cover and protect the flight feathers.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX