A medium-sized goose, the pink-footed goose is larger than a mallard but smaller than a mute swan. It has a black head and neck, a pink beak, pink feet, and pink legs. It is a pinkish gray.
Although this species does not breed in the UK, vast numbers of birds from its breeding grounds in Spitsbergen, Iceland, and Greenland migrate here for the winter. Numbers are rising in England, especially in Norfolk, most likely due to improved protection at winter roosts.
Pink-footed Goose Specifications
Pink-footed Goose ID
Breeding areas for the pink-footed geese include Svalbard, Iceland, and eastern Greenland. It migrates and spends the winter in northwest Europe, particularly in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and western Denmark. The majority of their food is vegetarian. They consume a wide variety of tundra plants on land and in the water during the summer. They graze mainly on oilseed rape, sugar beet, potatoes, and grasses in the winter, which can cause significant crop damage. However, their grazing can also be advantageous, especially for sugar beet and potato farmers, as they can glean the leaves and roots left over after the crop is harvested, preventing the spread of crop diseases annually.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
