The Branta Species
Derived with permission from the Waterfowl of Chenoa

BARNACLE
Scientific Name: Branta leucopsis

BARNACLE

Look For Body dark gray on top, light on bottom, neck is black, cheeks and forehead are white; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Greenland, Spitsbergen, and isles north of Siberia
Wintering Area Northwestern Europe
Nest Site In grass near water and on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of second year at Chenoa
When Late May or June until July in the nesting area, May until June at Chenoa
Clutch Size 4 or 5 eggs (two clutches at Chenoa at 4.0 average)
Incubation Approximately 24 to 25 days
Recent Papers on this species

BRANT

PACIFIC BRANT

Look For Medium size goose with upper parts grayish-brown, and black tail and flight feathers
Nesting Area Arctic North America
Wintering Area Pacific coast south to California and Mexico
Nest Site Slight depression to a large mound of mosses
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When June
Clutch Size 3 to 5 eggs
Incubation Approximately 25 days
Recent Papers on this species

BRANT

Look For Medium size goose with upper parts grayish-brown, with black tail and flight feathers and black feet and bill
Nesting Area Arctic Siberia
Wintering Area Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, British Isles, and the north and west coasts of France
Nest Site Slight depression to a large mound of mosses
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When June
Clutch Size 3 to 5 eggs
Incubation Approximately 25 days

CANADA

Look for Small goose with gray breast, black neck and front of head, white cheek patches that don't meet under the throat, and large white neck band; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Buldir, formerly occurred throughout the Aleutian Islands; most of the population today is limited to wildlife refuges
Wintering Area Not Applicable
Nest Site In grass near water on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When: April until June in the nesting area
Clutch Size 4 to 6 eggs
Incubation Approximately 24 to 28 days
Recent Papers on this species

CANADA

CACKLING CANADA

Look For Small goose with dark gray breast, black neck and front of head, white cheek patches; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and across Canada south to northern United States
Wintering Area Southern Canada south to Mexico and Gulf Coast
Nest Site In grass near water on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When April until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size 4 to 5 eggs (two clutches at Chenoa at 4.0 average)
Incubation Approximately 23 to 24 days
Recent Papers on this species

CANADA

DUSKY CANADA

Look For Medium goose with very dark gray breast, black neck and front of head, white cheek patches; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet to Copper River Delta
Wintering Area Oregon
Nest Site In grass near water on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When April until June in the nesting area
Clutch Size 4 to 6 eggs
Incubation Approximately 26 to 28 days

CANADA

GIANT CANADA

Look For Large goose with light gray breast, black neck and front of head, white cheek patches and white spot on black of head-front; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Formerly widespread from Manitoba and Minnesota to Arkansas and Tennessee; most of the population today is limited to wildlife refuges
Wintering Area Not Applicable
Nest Site In grass near water on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When April until June in the nesting area
Clutch Size 4 to 6 eggs
Incubation Approximately 26-28 days

CANADA

INTERIOR CANADA
MALE PROTECTS AS FEMALE ARRANGES

Look For Large goose with medium gray breast, black neck and front of head, white cheek patches; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Northern Quebec, Ontario and eastern Manitoba and southern Hudson Bay
Wintering Area Southern Canada south to Florida and Louisiana
Nest Site In grass near water on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When March until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size 6 to 8 eggs (two clutches at Chenoa at 7.5 average)
Incubation Approximately 28 days
Recent Papers on this species

CANADA

LESSER CANADA FEMALE

Look For Medium goose with medium gray breast, black neck and front of head, white cheek patches; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Central Alaska eastward to Hudson Bay, Canada and south to Prairie Provinces
Wintering Area California to Louisiana and Mexico
Nest Site In grass near water on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When April until June in the nesting area
Clutch Size 4 to 6 eggs
Incubation Approximately 25 to 28 days
Recent Papers on this species

CANADA

RICHARDSON'S CANADA
MALE PROTECTS AS FEMALE LOOKS ON

Look For Small goose with medium gray breast, black neck and front of head, white cheek patches; male and female are marked the same
Nesting Area Melville Peninsula, Southhampton, Baffin and Ellesmere Islands, Canada and western Greenland
Wintering Area Texas and Mexico
Nest Site In grass near water on a rise; nest guarded by male and female prior to setting, by male after setting begins
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When April until June in the nesting area
Clutch Size 4 to 6 eggs
Incubation Approximately 24 to 26 days

CANADIAN COLLAGE
Dusky, Cackler (partially hidden),
Richardson's, Interior, Lesser, and Giant
Recent Papers on this species

NENE OR HAWAIIAN (ENDANGERED)
Scientific Name: Branta sandvicensis

NENE OR HAWAIIAN
NENE MALE PROTECTING FEMALE ON NEST

Look For Male and female alike with crown, front of head, throat and long band down back of neck which are black, while body is gray-brown
Nesting Area Main island of Hawaii and Maui where it was reintroduced in 1962
Wintering Area Not Applicable
Nest Site Nests on the ground in the vegetation
Initial Nest During fall-winter of third year, sometimes the second year
When October to February in nesting area
Clutch Size 3 to 6 eggs
Incubation Approximately 30 days
Recent Papers on this species

RED-BREASTED
Scientific Name: Branta ruficollis

RED-BREASTED

Look For Small black, red, and white goose
Nesting Area Northern Siberia on the Taomyr peninsula
Wintering Area Eastern Romania at the edge of the Black Sea
Nest Site Open areas near cliffs or rock outcrops and always very close to the nest of a raptor
Initial Nest During spring-summer of third year
When Early June
Clutch Size 3 to 8 eggs
Incubation Approximately 25 days
Recent Papers on this species