Branta leucopsis
Silhouette: Lauren M · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a species of goose that belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with extensive black in the plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. Despite its superficial similarity to the brant goose, genetic analysis has shown its closest relative is the cackling goose.
The barnacle goose was first classified taxonomically by Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1803. Branta is a Latinised form of Old Norse Brandgás, "burnt [black] goose" and the specific epithet is from the Ancient Greek leukos "white", and opsis "faced".
In the mediaeval period, the barnacle goose and the similar brant goose were not distinguished, and were formerly believed to spawn from the goose barnacle. This gave rise to the English name of the barnacle goose and the scientific name of the brant. The barnacle myth can be dated back to at least the 12th century. Gerald of Wales claimed to have seen these birds hanging down from pieces of timber, William Turner accepted the theory, and John Gerard claimed to have seen the birds emerging from their shells. The legend persisted until the end of the 18th century. In County Kerry... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Svalbard | 🇳🇴 Norway | |
| 2 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 3 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 5 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 6 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 7 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 8 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 9 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 10 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki | 🇫🇮 Finland | |
| 2 | Stockholm | 🇸🇪 Sweden | |
| 3 | Munich | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Lyon | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 6 | Copenhagen | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 7 | Rotterdam [The Hague] | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 8 | Amsterdam | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 9 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Paris | 🇫🇷 France |
Very likely
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Barnacle Goose sighting in Vatnajokull National Park on a given day, based on 709 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 73 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Barnacle Goose in Vatnajokull National Park on a given day, against about 10% in March, the lowest month.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Barnacle Goose sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 10 parks where we can rate Barnacle Goose sightings, Vatnajokull National Park ranks 2nd at about 70%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Svalbard (Norway, about 70%).
Same family: Anatidae
The closest relatives of the Barnacle Goose that you can see in Vatnajokull National Park (family Anatidae, Ducks, Geese, and Swans) are Common Eider (about 60%), Whooper Swan (about 30%) and Greylag Goose (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Barnacle Goose is recorded against all the birds logged in Vatnajokull National Park (709 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
