Red-breasted Goose
Branta ruficollis
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusBranta (Black Geese)
- SpeciesBranta ruficollis (Red-breasted Goose)
About the Red-breasted Goose
The red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) is a brightly marked species of goose in the genus Branta from Eurasia. It is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. The red-breasted goose is sometimes placed in its own genus Rufibrenta but appears close enough to the brant goose (Branta bernicla) to make this unnecessary, despite its distinct appearance. Today all major authorities include the red-breasted goose in Branta. Genetic studies indicate that the red-breasted goose may be one the few known examples of hybrid speciation in birds, being the result of ancient interbreeding between the ancestral brant goose and white-cheeked goose (the latter being the ancestral species that later split into all today's Branta species, except the brant and red-breasted geese). This interbreeding appears to have happened at least 3.5 million years ago, with the lineage of the red-breasted goose following its own evolutionary path since then.
Branta is a Latinised form of Old Norse Brandgás, "burnt (black) goose and ruficollis is from the Latin rufus "red" and collis "necked". All the species of the genus Branta are distinguished by their dark... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Red-breasted Goose in Hortobágy National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Hortobágy National Park
Brant
Branta bernicla
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Common Pochard
Aythya ferina
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
Ferruginous Duck
Aythya nyroca
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelope
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 2 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 3 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 5 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 6 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Red-breasted Goose in Hortobágy National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-breasted Goose sighting in Hortobágy National Park, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Red-breasted Goose in Hortobágy National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Red-breasted Goose in Hortobágy National Park in our monthly data.