Family:
The red-breasted goose is a small, stocky goose often found in other flocks of geese and from a distance can often be confused with brent geese. The male has dark sooty plumage and a rusty-red breast with a white border. The mantle is dark with fine bars while the underparts are white. They have rust patches on the side of their heads, and white patches in front of the dark bill which is relatively short. The legs and feet are grey. Females are similar to males.
There has been a dramatic decline in the population of red-breasted geese and although the exact reasons are unknown, threats such as changes in agriculture, wind farms, and illegal poaching and hunting are thought to be factors.
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Red-breasted geese’s diet consists mainly of plant matter including grass and some aquatic plants. They will also eat grain and cereal.
Red-breasted geese breed in Arctic Siberia and spend their winters along the shores of the Black, Caspian, and Arial seas. They are found on river banks, flooded fields, wooded tundra, lakes, and marshes.
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Pair of Red breasted geese seen atPet Level near Rye East Sussex on 14th February 2023