Lesser White-fronted Goose
|
|
| Lesser White-fronted Goose Conservation status: Vulnerable | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missing image Lwfg.JPG Lesser White-fronted Goose | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus) is a goose closely related to the larger White-fronted Goose (A. albifrons).
It breeds in northernmost Asia, but it is a scarce breeder in Europe. There is a re-introduction scheme in Fennoscandia.
The Lesser White-fronted Goose winters further south in Europe and is a very rare vagrant to Great Britain.
The two white-fronted goose species differ little other than in size (the Lesser, at 53–66 cm length and with a 120–135 cm wingspan, is not much bigger than a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchus)) but both may be readily distinguished from the Greylag Goose by their bright orange legs and their mouse-coloured upper wing-coverts. The Greylag Goose has the bill and legs flesh-coloured, and the upper wing-coverts of a bluish-grey.
Both white-front 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 White-fronted Geese, have an obvious yellow eye-ring, and the white facial blaze goes up to the crown.
Lesser White-fronted Goose is considered an endangered species, but there are programmes to reintroduce animals into the wild to strengthen the population.
Template:Commonsbg:Малка белочела гъска de:Zwerggans eo:Malgranda ansero fy:Goudeachje lt:Mažoji žąsis pl:Gęś mała zh:小白额雁
Categories: Anser | Geese