Red-Breasted Goose

Branta ruficollis

SSP Coordinator:

Joanna Klass, Woodland Park Zoo 

Vice Coordinator:

Charlotte Carruth, Zoo Knoxville

The red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) is a strikingly patterned goose that is classified as Vulnerable in the wild due to its small population size and ongoing threats. It breeds in the Arctic tundra of northern Siberia, nesting near rivers and lakes, and migrates south to winter primarily around the Black Sea region, where it uses coastal wetlands, lakes, and nearby agricultural fields. Red-breasted geese are herbivorous, feeding mainly on grasses, sedges, and other tundra plants during the breeding season, and on wintering grounds they also consume cereals, winter wheat, and other crops. Habitat loss, agricultural intensification, disturbance, and hunting pressure have contributed to population declines, making international conservation efforts vital for the species’ long-term survival.