The pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) is a medium-sized goose species that breeds in the high Arctic tundra of Greenland, Svalbard, and Iceland. It is migratory, wintering in northwest Europe, especially Ireland and Great Britain. The pink-footed goose gets its name from its pink legs and feet. These colorful feet help differentiate it from other grey goose species like the greylag goose.
One distinguishing feature of the pink-footed goose is its calls. The species has a repertoire of honks, bugles, and high-pitched yodels that it uses to communicate. Understanding what a pink-footed goose sounds like can help birdwatchers identify the species in the field. Knowing the context for different vocalizations provides insight into the behavior and social dynamics of pink-footed geese.
Description of Pink-Footed Goose Vocalizations
The pink-footed goose has a wide range of vocalizations it uses. Here are some of the main calls:
– Contact call – A short, higher-pitched “kewick” given regularly when geese are grazing or traveling. This helps them stay in contact with the flock.
– Alert call – A harsh, barking “ang-ang” or “a-hung” given when geese sense danger. It alerts the flock to be vigilant.
– Aggressive call – A louder, more emphatic version of the alert call given during antagonistic encounters.
– Begging call – High-pitched “keeyow” or “kee-yow” calls that goslings give when begging for food from their parents.
– Greeting call – A “kow-wow” honk given as a greeting by geese landing near their mates or flock members on nesting or wintering grounds.
– Triumph ceremony call – A loud, excited bugling “ahng-ung-ung” made by male geese after winning a confrontation with another goose.
The pink-footed goose has an expansive vocabulary of honks, bugles, and calls it uses to maintain contact, signal warnings, beg for food, and communicate during social interactions. The calls help coordinate flock behavior and dynamics.
Context and Meaning of Pink-Footed Goose Vocalizations
Different calls are associated with specific contexts and meanings in pink-footed goose communication. Here are some examples:
Contact Calls
The short “kewick” contact calls are regularly given when the geese are feeding in fields or migrating in flocks. They function to maintain connection between flock members over distance and around obstacles. The calls confirm the presence and position of other geese nearby. If contact calls drop off, it indicates that the flock is dispersing or a goose has become isolated.
Alert Calls
The barking “ang-ang” alert calls serve to warn the flock of potential danger, like an approaching predator or human. When one goose gives the alert call, others will pick it up and the call will quickly spread through the flock. This signals to the geese to be vigilant and prepare to take flight. Louder and more frequent versions of the alert call indicate higher alarm in response to an intruder.
Greeting Calls
The “kow-wow” honks are exchanged between paired geese after one returns from being away, like from a feeding flight. They help the geese identify each other and reestablish contact. The greeting calls are part of pair bonding displays, reinforcing the bond between mates.
Begging Calls
High-pitched begging calls are given by goslings when soliciting their parents for food. The calls stimulate regurgitation of food by the adult geese. Their pitch and urgency communicate the level of hunger, triggering feeding by the parents.
Triumph Ceremony Calls
Loud bugling calls are made by male geese after successfully driving off a goose rival or predator near the nest. The sounds communicates the male’s dominance to its mate and others in the vicinity. It functions as a territorial display.
Identifying Pink-Footed Geese by Call
The diverse vocal repertoire of the pink-footed goose enables birdwatchers to identify them in the field by call alone. Some identification tips:
– Listen for a higher-pitched “kewick” contact call to pick out a flock.
– A harsh, emphatic “ang-ang” indicates pink-footed geese alarmed by danger.
– Watch for a male goose giving loud bugling calls after an antagonistic encounter—a sign of a triumph ceremony display.
– Begging calls by goslings confirm the presence of a pink-footed goose family.
Learning the context, cadence, and tone of pink-footed goose calls takes practice. But understanding their vocalizations provides clues into goose behavior and ecology. With experience, birdwatchers can readily pinpoint pink-footed geese by sound in the field.
Regional Differences
There are some regional dialects in the calls of pink-footed geese:
Greenland Breeding Populations
– Contact calls tend to be higher-pitched and more drawn out
– Alert calls are louder and more repetitive
Iceland Breeding Populations
– Contact calls are shorter and softer
– Alert calls are lower-pitched
– More melodious sounding greeting calls
Svalbard Breeding Populations
– Intermediate contact call pitch and length
– Alert calls are intermediate pitch
– Greeting calls are moderately melodious
Geese from different breeding regions mix together outside the breeding season. But careful listeners can pick up on subtle regional dialects in flock vocalizations.
Variation Between Individuals
There is also some individual variation in the calls of pink-footed geese:
| Individual 1 | Raspy-sounding contact calls |
|---|---|
| Individual 2 | Very high-pitched alert calls |
| Individual 3 | Extremely loud greeting calls |
| Individual 4 | Warbly-sounding begging calls |
The unique voice of individual geese arises from anatomy and learning. Family members may sounding similar due to shared genetics and learning vocalizations together. Understanding variation will help birdwatchers track and recognize specific geese over time.
Mimicry by Other Species
Some other bird species mimic the calls of pink-footed geese:
– Mallards will mimic the contact call, possibly to integrate into flocks of geese during migration.
– Ravens sometimes mimic the alert and alarm calls, possibly to flush up prey or just to trick geese as a form of play.
– Wigeon ducks incorporate elements of greeting calls into their own displays, which may facilitate joining flocks of geese.
Mimicry indicates that pink-footed goose vocalizations carry meaning and value to other species in their ecosystem. However, only pink-footed geese combine the entire repertoire of calls and displays.
Conclusion
The pink-footed goose has a diverse vocabulary of honks, bugles, and clucks that it uses to communicate and coordinate flock behavior. Contact calls maintain connectedness, while alert calls signal danger. Greeting calls identify mates, and begging calls stimulate feeding. Triumph ceremony calls display dominance. Regional dialects, individual variation, and mimicry by other species adds further complexity. With careful listening and observation, birdwatchers can decode the sounds of the pink-footed goose to understand their ecology and behavior. The calls provide a window into the rich social world of these vocal Arctic-nesting geese.
