Bean Goose
VU

Bean Goose

Anser fabalis

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga_bean_goose

Overview

The taiga bean goose is a species of goose that breeds in northern Europe and Asia. It is migratory and winters further south in Europe and Asia. This and the tundra bean goose were recognised as separate species by the International Ornithologists' Union and the American Ornithological Society from 2007, but are still considered a single species by some other authorities, notably BirdLife International and the IUCN.

The taiga and tundra bean goose diverged about 2.5 million years ago and established secondary contact c. 60,000 years ago, resulting in extensive gene flow.

Bean Geese face significant pressure from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and wetland drainage across their breeding and wintering grounds. Climate change is altering the timing of migration and affecting food availability, while hunting pressure in some regions continues to impact population numbers.

Threat summary

Habitat

Bean Geese breed in taiga forests, tundra, and marshy areas across northern Eurasia, utilizing both wooded swamps and open wetlands. During winter and migration, they occupy agricultural fields, grasslands, coastal marshes, and shallow freshwater wetlands in temperate regions.

FRESHWATER· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Bean Goose classified as Vulnerable?
Bean Goose is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Bean Geese face significant pressure from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and wetland drainage across their breeding and wintering grounds. Climate change is altering the timing of migration and affecting food availability, while hunting pressure in some regions continues to impact population numbers.
Where does Bean Goose live?
Bean Goose occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bean Goose?
The main threats to Bean Goose are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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