Red-breasted Goose
The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is a brightly marked, endangered species of goose in the genus Branta from Eurasia. It is sometimes separated in Rufibrenta but appears close enough to the Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) to make this unnecessary, despite its distinct appearance.
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| Red-breasted Goose |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalart/
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| Red-breasted Goose |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7326810@N08/
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| Red-breasted Goose |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dtownsend/
Description
All the species of the Branta genus are distinguished by their dark sooty colour, relieved by white, and as a distinction from the grey geese of the genus Anser. Among the species from these two genera, the Red-breasted Goose is the smallest at 53–56 centimetres (21–22 in) in length. This brightly marked species is unmistakable, but can be surprisingly difficult to find amongst Brent Geese. At long distances, the red of the breast tends to look dark, and the broad white stripe on the flank is more evident.
