Lesser White-fronted Goose
Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758)
LC
LWFGO
1600
Family: Anseriformes > Anatidae
A small grey goose with a distinctive yellow eye-ring, this is a rare (and declining) visitor from its arctic breeding grounds. Escapes from waterfowl collections are, however, common.
A sighting of Britain's second Lesser White-fronted Goose on the Severn led the naturalist Sir Peter Scott to set up the Wildfowl Trust (now WWT) at Slimbridge, a move which led to the BBC's Natural History Unit being established in Bristol.
The species breeds from north-east Europe east to Siberia and winters in south-east Europe and south-west Asia.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Lesser White-fronted Goose
SEASONALITY
BTO RECORDS
Identification
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Vulnerable |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Vulnerable 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
POPULATION SIZE
We have no population estimates for this scarce species.
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
Northumberland, 1886 |
DISTRIBUTION
Lesser White-fronted Geese are very rare winter vagrants to Britain, a situation confused by the presence of escapes, some showing evidence of hybridisation. Since the 1981–84 Winter Atlas the species has more than doubled its winter range size but it is impossible to be certain about the provenance of all individuals. However, the fact that ten 10-km squares were occupied during the breeding season casts doubt on these records being of vagrants. Most records were from the southern half of England, a pattern shared with many non-native species. A cluster of records in Norfolk may constitute wild birds migrating with Taiga Bean Geese, but known escapes are also present there.
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Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 17 |
| % occupied in winter | 0.6 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +128.6% |
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Lesser White-fronted Goose, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
BIOMETRICS
Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: LC | 5-letter code: LWFGO | Euring: 1600 |
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Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com
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