Barnacle goose | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Anseriformes |
Family: | Anatidae |
Genus: | Branta |
Species: | B. leucopsis
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Binomial name | |
Branta leucopsis (Bechstein, 1803)
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Range of the barnacle goose (note: also breeds in Iceland; grey is indicated as feral, but these populations were established by both wild birds and escaped captives, see text) |
The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a species of goose that belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. Despite its superficial similarity to the brant goose, genetic analysis has shown it is an eastern derivative of the cackling goose lineage.