Photo: Frebeck / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-breasted Goose
Branta ruficollis
Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 13 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Branta
- Species ruficollis
Where it lives
Low Arctic tundra of Yamal, Gydan and Taymyr pens. (northwestern Siberia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-breasted Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-breasted Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL low Arctic tundra of Yamal, Gydan and Taymyr pens. (nw Siberia).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 34.6 cm and a tail of around 10.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 754,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-breasted Goose?
The Red-breasted Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Red-breasted Goose live?
The Red-breasted Goose is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL low Arctic tundra of Yamal, Gydan and Taymyr pens. (nw Siberia), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Red-breasted Goose belong to?
The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Red-breasted Goose eat?
The Red-breasted Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Red-breasted Goose migrate?
The Red-breasted Goose is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red-breasted Goose endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Red-breasted Goose make?
4 real field recordings of the Red-breasted Goose — including its song and call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-breasted Goose's range?
The Red-breasted Goose has a mapped global range of about 754,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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