The American Ornithologists Union split the more generic Bean Goose into Taiga and Tundra species, based on breeding habitat. They are still considered one species in Europe. Physical characteristics between the two species are also slightly different, with the Taiga Bean Goose having a broader orange band on the bill than the Tundra Bean Goose. The Taiga Bean Goose is normally a bird of Europe and Asia. They breed in northern parts of Eurasia, and typically winter near coastal areas of northwest Europe, in southeast Asia, and elsewhere in Eurasia. Bean Geese are considered vagrants in North America. However, they are seen with some regularity in the Aleutians and other areas of Alaska, and have also been seen elsewhere in North America, including areas as diverse as Canada, the Salton Sea in California, and in Iowa.
Habitat:
Bean geese inhabit subarctic taiga forests and arctic tundra during the breeding season, preferring bogs, lakes, and marshes. During winter, they frequent open agricultural land, pastures, and wetlands. They are migratory, moving from Northern Eurasia to warmer European and Asian regions.
Diet:
Diet is composed of plant material, including grasses, roots and tubers, seeds, fruits, and flowers. They will also feed on cereal grains and other agricultural crops if available.
Nesting:
On taiga habitat, typically nests in grassy hummocks near water, with the nest often located at the base of shrubbery or a tree. The nest is a low mound of grasses, moss, and other vegetation, with a depression at the top lined with down. They are not particularly sociable during nesting, although dispersed nests sometimes form relatively loose colonies. Both parents help raise the young and defend chicks from predators.
Interactive eBird Map:
Click to access an interactive eBird map of Tundra Bean Goose sightings. Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Taiga Bean-Goose sightings.
Song:
The voice of the Bean Goose is generally described as a loud, deep, and resonant honking, often noted as being less noisy than other gray geese. It is characterized by its sharp, reedy, and penetrating quality, which differs from the more musical calls of other goose species.
Migration:
Migratory. The Taiga Bean Goose breeds in Taiga areas of northern Eurasia, and winters in northwestern Europe and southeastern Asia, and scattered other locations in Eurasia. The Tundra Bean Goose breeds in northern Russia and winters in scattered locations in Europe and Asia.
Similar Species:
In North America, most similar to the Greater White-fronted Goose . Also closely related to the Pink-footed Goose.
Conservation Status:
There are currently no perceived major threats to Bean Goose populations. The IUCN considers the Bean Goose to be a species of "Least Concern".
Photo Information:
April 2006 - Photo from Shizhao - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 Generic license.
