British Population Size:
Winter:
91 thousand individuals
in 2008-10
 
First Record:
Recorded in Anglo-Saxon times
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Conservation Status:
AMBER
because
Localised Non-breeding Population,
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
AMBER
1996-2001
AMBER
Races of Concern:
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
Migration routes:
Map of foreign ringing recoveries
and summary map from Time to Fly (in pop-up windows)
European Population Size:
Summer:
18 to 21 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe mapped by the EBCC Atlas
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
77 x 50 mm
Egg Weight:
107.0 g (of which 10 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
6
Clutch Size:
4 - 5 eggs
Incubation:
24- 25 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
40 - 45days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Does not breed in Britain, or too few Nest Records
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
Annual Totals
Adult Survival:
0.910
(Sexes similar)
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
3
years
Typical Lifespan:
14
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
26 years 11 months 11 days (set in 2004)
Read a summary of Ringing Recoveries
Biometrics
Ring Size:
J
Wing Length
Adult:
409.0 ± 18.7
Range
345.0 - 474.0 mm, (N = 402)
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data
Male:
417.8 ± 14.0
Range
348.0 - 454.0 mm, (N = 215)
Female:
397.8 ± 17.1
Range
345.0 - 474.0 mm, (N = 184)
Weight
Adult:
1.89 ± 0.19
Range
1.18 - 2.63 kg , (N =408)
Juvenile:
1672.8 ± 239.6
Range
1250.0 - 2100.0 . , (N =18)
Male:
1.97 ± 0.17
Range
2.20 - 2500 kg , (N =222)
Female:
1.80 ± 0.16
Range
1.48 - 1.98 kg , (N =184)
Seasonal:
Summer 2.04 ± 0.29 (N = 11)  
Winter 1.85 ± 0.20 (N = 661)  
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Cathan
Welsh:
Gwydd Wyran
Danish:
Bramgås
Dutch:
Brandgans
Finnish:
Valkoposkihanhi
French:
Bernache nonnette
German:
Nonnengans
Hungarian:
Apácalúd
Icelandic:
Helsingi
Irish:
Gé Ghiúrainn
Italian:
Oca facciabianca
Norwegian:
Hvitkinngås
Polish:
Bernikla bialolica
Portuguese:
Ganso-de-faces-brancas
Spanish:
Barnacla cariblanca
Swedish:
Vitkindad gås
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Hillcoat, B. et al. 1997 BWP Update 1:175-182
Kear, J 2005 Ducks, geese and swans Oxford University Press
[598.48 KEA]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar
or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
Read State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
BOU Register of Avian Theses entry