Lesser white-fronted goose
| Lesser white-fronted goose | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Anser |
| Species: | A. erythropus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anser erythropus | |
| |
| Range of A. erythropus Breeding Non-breeding Passage Vagrant (seasonality uncertain) Possibly Extant (passage)
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| Synonyms | |
|
Anas erythropus Linnaeus, 1758 | |
The lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus) is a
.Taxonomy
The scientific name comes from anser, the Latin for "goose", and erythropus, "red-footed", derived from the old Greek eruthros "red" and pous "foot".[2]
Distribution and habitat
The lesser white-fronted goose winters further south in Europe and is a rare winter vagrant to
Description
The two white-fronted goose species differ little other than in size (the lesser, at 53–66 cm (21–26 in) length and with a 120–135 cm (47–53 in) wingspan, is not much bigger than a
Both white-fronted goose species have a very conspicuous white face and broad black bars which cross the belly.
Adult lesser white-fronted geese, as well as being smaller than greater white-fronted geese, have an obvious yellow eye-ring and the white facial blaze goes up to the crown.
Conservation
The lesser white-fronted goose is considered an
Fennoscandian population
This genetically distinct population is now estimated at about 20 breeding pairs or 60–80 total individuals at most. They breed in northern Norway and overwinter in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. There is a major stop-over site at Hortobágy National Park, Hungary, where the birds spend up to two months during autumn and one month during the spring migration.[4]
Another part of the Fennoscandian population breeds in northern Sweden. The population size in 2015 is estimated to about 15 breeding pairs or 40-50 individuals in all. These birds follow a western migration route and spend the winter in Netherlands and Germany. According to the IUCN Red List in 2015, the conservation status of this population is Critically Endangered.
Gallery
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Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden -
A lesser white-fronted goose at Weltvogelpark Walsrode
_-_Weltvogelpark_Walsrode_2011.jpg)
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ISSN 0006-6982.)
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2024 (link - ^ Lengyel, S.; Tar, J.; Rózsa, L. (2012). "Flock size measures of migrating Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus" (PDF). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 58: 297–303.
External links
- Cyberbirding – Lesser White-fronted Goose
- Feathers of Lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus)
- Portal to the Lesser White-fronted Goose by the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose project
- BirdLife species factsheet for Anser erythropus
- "Anser erythropus". Avibase.
- "Lesser white-fronted goose media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Lesser white-fronted goose photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Anser erythropus at IUCN Red List maps
- Audio recordings of Lesser white-fronted goose on Xeno-canto.
