Red-breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis (Pallas, 1769)

2016-07-25 Island Posledniy on the river Khatanga	© Sergey Vazhov

Description

The Red-breasted Goose is unmistakable identified by the specific black, white and chestnut-reddish colors. The forehead, top-head, back-neck, back, tail and wings are black. The head-sides have the large chestnut-reddish spot on the ear-area; these spots are bordered by the broad white edges which extended on the neck-flanks. The craw and neck-flanks are chestnut-reddish bordered by the white strip from the black belly. The upper- and undertail coverts and the rear-belly are white. The bill and legs are white; the eyes are reddish-brown. The juveniles are similar on adults but not so bright with less neat patterns; the “red” craw is yellowier with pale and brownish spots; the reddish spot on the cheek is less; the white strips are broader, sometimes the red on the head is lack; the wings have 3-5 white bars (2 on adults). The one-year birds also have these characters; the dim juvenile plumage is changed on bright adult one. Weight 1.0-1.7 kg, length 53-56, wing males 35.5-39.0, females - 33.2-36.0, wingspan 116-135 cm.

Distribution

Main breeding areas are in subzones of scrubby and typical tundra in Taimyr Peninsula, less in Gydan and Yamal peninsulas. In late XXth century range was expanded to western Yakutia. Common or even numerous migrant in the south of Western Siberia, and rare migrant or vagrant more east.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.