Tag Archives: Pinkfoot

Pink-footed geese in the highlands

Heiðagæs – Pink-footed goose – Anser brachyrhynchus

In early summer the Pink-footed goose is one of the most prominent species of the Icelandic highlands. New breeding areas have been appearing in the last few years and their numbers have been rapidly increasing, the stock counting about 400 thousand birds.

This spring breeding was very successful and flocks of chicks could be seen on highland lakes in the beginning of June.

The Pink-footed goose builds its nest in tussocks and in cliffs near water or wetlands. They leave the country in autumn and come back in April. They overwinter in Scotland and North England.