Identification
A small, compact goose with a richly chestnut breast and a sharply patterned black, white and chestnut head. At distance it may look surprisingly dark.
When to look
A non-breeding visitor to Romania. It nests in Arctic tundra, not in the Danube Delta; local winter numbers vary.
Where to look
Wintering birds feed on lowland farmland, pasture and steppe near safe wetland roosts. The wider Black Sea region is important.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and nutrition
Winter crops and grasses are important foods. Safe feeding time is essential for flocks facing cold weather and further migration.
Breeding and life cycle
Arctic nests can occur near nesting raptors, which may help deter other predators. This breeding behaviour should not be confused with Romanian winter ecology.
A closer look
Its bright pattern can disappear within a distant mixed goose flock. Patient scanning is often more effective than looking only for obvious red colour.
Global conservation assessment
VU · Vulnerable
Global category recorded from the linked assessment; it does not describe local abundance. Least Concern does not mean absence of threats.
View the source assessment ↗Observation and photography
Use a telescope from established routes and keep well away from roosts. Do not drive into fields or make flocks fly for photographs.
Sources and further reading
Keep a distance that allows birds to feed and rest normally. Do not enter colonies, approach nests, flush roosts or use playback for photographs. Never publish precise nest locations of sensitive species. Follow reserve rules and your guide's advice.