Anser erythropus -- (Linnaeus, 1758)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ANSERIFORMES -- ANATIDAECommon names: Lesser White-fronted Goose;

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

EN -- Endangered, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Endangered (EN)EU27 regional assessment: Critically Endangered (CR)

In Europe, this species has a very small, declining population and is therefore classified as Endangered (C1). Within the EU27, the population is tiny and it is therefore listed as Critically Endangered under criterion D.

Due to limited genetic introgression of Greater White-fronted Goose genetic material in the reinforced Swedish population, some concerns have been raised about whether that population should be considered in the current Red List assessment. The current Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (Version 11, February 2014) do not provide any guidance on what levels of hybrid gene frequency are acceptable to allow inclusion of populations of released birds from captive breeding programmes in a Red List assessment. However, the European and EU27 Red List Categories are not affected by that debate.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Georgia; Greece; Hungary; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Norway; Poland; Romania; Serbia; Slovakia; Turkey; Ukraine; Belgium; Germany; Netherlands; SwedenVagrant:France; Ireland, Rep. of; Spain; Switzerland; United Kingdom

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 140-310 pairs, which equates to 280-620 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 15-30 pairs, which equates to 30-60 mature individuals. In winter, the European population is estimated at 2,200-7,600 individuals, which equates to 1,500-5,100 mature individuals. The population in winter in the EU27 is estimated at 90-270 individuals, which equates to 60-180 mature individuals. In Sweden the population was reinforced with captive bred birds since 1981 (Marchant and Musgrove 2011) and a small wintering population is also now established in The Netherlands and Germany, originating from the population in Sweden. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing by at least 20% in 22.8 years (two generations). In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. In winter, the population size in Europe is estimated to be decreasing by 30-49% in 34.2 years (three generations) and in the EU27 it is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% over the same period. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThis species breeds in low-lying bogs, scrub-covered tundra and taiga-forest edges close to wetlands, up to

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700 m Asl (Kear 2005). It can also be found on the slopes by the lower parts of mountain streams, on mountain foothills, mountain lakes and on alpine precipices, often in thawing boggy areas or on stone fields (Cramp and Simmons 1977, Johnsgard 1978). It often nests on snow-free patches available early in the breeding season (such as rocky outcrops or prominent hummocks) hidden amongst vegetation or in boggy hollows (Madsen 1996, Kear 2005), usually in close proximity to open water or marshy areas (Kear 2005). The nest is a shallow depression on the ground lined with grass, moss and down and frequently the same site is used in subsequent seasons. Clutch size is normally four to six (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). This species is herbivorous, feeding on grasses, roots, stems, leaves, fruits and the green parts of aquatic and terrestrial plants. During the winter the species supplements its diet with winter agricultural grains. This species is fully migratory (Kear 2005). The species departs from its breeding grounds in northern Scandinavia and arctic Russia in late August to early September and travels to wintering grounds in south-east Europe and the Middle East (Alerstam 1990, Snow and Perrins 1998). Small wintering populations, originating from the reinforcement of the breeding population in Sweden, are now established in the Netherlands and Germany (Hornman et al. 2012, Kruckenberg and Krüger 2013). The return passage to the breeding grounds begins in February, with the species arriving from early May (Snow and Perrins 1998) to late June (Madsen 1996).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable non-breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable non-breedingGrassland - Tundra suitable breedingRocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable breedingShrubland - Subarctic suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) major breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) major non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breedingWetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable non-breedingWetlands (inland) - Tundra Wetlands (incl. pools and temporary waters from snowmelt)

suitable breeding

Altitude 0-700 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsIllegal spring hunting and round-ups of moulting birds are taking place on the Russian breeding grounds (Jones 2011) and illegal shooting continues in Norway (T. Aarvak pers. comm. 2007). In the western Palearctic at least 20–30% of the population are shot each year (Mooij 2010) often accidentally during the hunting of other species. Habitat deterioration, as a result of land cultivation and increased water-levels in the Caspian Sea, is a further threat (Madsen 1996), as is habitat loss through the creation of reservoirs for hydroelectric power in Scandinavia (Madsen 1996). The species may also be threatened by nest predation from the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) (Madsen 1996) and the restocked population in Sweden has suffered from predation by White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) (Jones et al. 2008). Disturbance on breeding grounds (e.g. from increasing tourism and angling) causes much disruption to nesting birds (Madsen 1996). Climate change and associated habitat shifts are expected to impact negatively on this species and others dependent on tundra habitat for breeding. Modelling indicates that 28% of the habitat for this species could be lost by 2070 (Zöckler and Lysenko 2000). Outside of the breeding season, high mortality in autumn and winter is caused by illegal hunting, and accidental shooting on the staging and wintering grounds is the most important threat (Madsen 1996, Aarvak et al.1997, Lorentsen et al. 1998, Kear 2005, Morozov 2006, Jones 2011). Disturbance of roosting and feeding birds by hunters is a potentially significant limiting factor on survival and breeding output (Ebbinge and Spaans 1995, N. Petkov in litt. 2007). In the Kaliningrad region of Russia, important migratory stop-over points on the Baltic Sea coastline are being degraded through petroleum pollution, wetland drainage for agriculture, changes in wetland management leading to scrub and reed overgrowth, peat extraction, and the burning and mowing of reed beds (Grishanov 2006).

Threats & ImpactsThreat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses

Agriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Biological resource use

Gathering terrestrial plants (unintentional effects - species is not the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (

LIFE project, which also enabled the preparation of National Action Plans for Norway, Finland and Estonia, habitat management and restoration in Estonia and Hungary and awareness campaigns, especially targeting hunters and farmers (Tonlaven et al. 2009). A European Action Plan was published in 1996 (Madsen 1996) and an updated International Single Species Action Plan for the western Palearctic population was published in 2008 (Jones et al. 2008). Several captive breeding populations exist (AEWA). A restocking programme in Sweden was ongoing until 2000, when concerns were raised regarding the presence of Great White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) mtDNA in the released captive bred birds (Ruokonen et al. 2007, Marchant and Musgrove 2011). At least 3-7% of birds released in Sweden until that time were estimated to be carrying DNA from Greater White-fronted Goose. Releases in Sweden of birds from a stock originating from Russia resumed in 2010 (Naturvårdsverket 2011).

Conservation Actions ProposedReduce illegal hunting pressure in key wintering and staging areas. Locate, monitor and protect key areas. Continue satellite tracking and other research. Prevent habitat loss and manage habitats in staging and wintering areas. Promote international and national legal protection and develop captive breeding programmes. Promote public awareness.

BibliographyAarvak, T., Oien, I.J., Syroechkovski, E.E., Jr. and Kostadinova, I. 1997. The Lesser White-fronted Goose monitoring programme: annual report 1997. Norwegian Ornithological Society, Klaebu, Norway.African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement. 2008. 1st meeting of the Committee for captive breeding, reintroduction and supplementation of Lesser White-fronted Geese in Fennoscania. Bonn.Alerstam, T. 1990. Bird migration. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.Carboneras, C. and Kirwan, G.M. 2014. Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. 1977. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic, vol. I: ostriches to ducks. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Ebbinge, B.S. and Spaans, B. 1995. The importance of body reserves accumulated in spring staging areas in the temperate zone for breeding in Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta b. bernicla in the high Arctic. Journal of Avian Biology 26: 105-113.Grishanov, D. 2006. Conservation problems of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds and their habitats in the Kaliningrad region of Russia. In: Boere, G., Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 356. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, U.K.Hornman, M., Hustings, F., Koffijberg, K., Kleefstra, R., Klaassen, O., van Winden, E., Sovon Ganzen- en Zwanenwerkgroep and Soldaat, L. 2012. Watervogels in Nederland in 2009/2010. Sovon-monitoringrapport 2012/02, Waterdienst-rapport BM 12.06. Sovon Vogelonderzoek Nederland, Nijmegen.Johnsgard, P.A. 1978. Ducks, geese and swans of the World. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London.Jones, D. 2011. An appetite for connection: why we need to understand the effect and value of feeding wild birds. Emu 111(2): I-VII.Jones, T., Martin, K., Barov, B. and Nagy, S. (Compilers). 2008. International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Western Palearctic Population of the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus. AEWA Technical Series No.36. , Bonn, Germany.Kear, J. 2005. Ducks, geese and swans volume 1: general chapters, species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.Kruckenberg, H. and Krüger, T. 2013. Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus in Lower Saxony (NW Germany) – status, distribution and numbers 1900–2007. Goose Bulletin 17: 10-18.Lorentsen, S., Oien, I. J. and Aarvak, T. 1998. Migration of Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus mapped by satellite telemetry. Biological Conservation 84: 47-52.Madsen, J. 1996. International action plan for the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus. In: Heredia, B., Rose, L. and Painter, M. (ed.), Globally threatened birds in Europe: action plans, pp. 67-78. Council of Europe, and BirdLife International, Strasbourg.Marchant, J.H. and Musgrove, A.J. 2011. Review of European flyways of the Lesser White‐fronted Goose Anser erythropus. Research Report 595. British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford.

BibliographyMooij, J.H. 2010. Review of the historical distribution of the Lesser White‐fronted Goose Anser erythropus in Europe. Ornis Svecica 20: 190–201.Morozov, V.V. 2006. The Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus at the verge of the millennium. In: Boere, G., Galbraith, C. and Stroud, D. (ed.), Waterbirds around the world, pp. 380-381. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, U.K.Morozov, V.V. and Syroechkovski, E.E., Jr. 2005. Lesser White-fronted Goose at the turn of the millennium. Casarca S1: 91-138.Munteanu, D., Weber, P., Szabó, J., Gogu-Bogdan, M. and Marinov, M. 1991. A note on the present status of geese in Romania. Ardea 79: 165-166.Naturvårdsverket 2011. Åtgärdsprogram för fjällgås (2011–2015), rapport 6434 - April 2011.Petkov, N., Oien, I.J. and Aarvak, T. 1999. Occurence of Lesser White-fronted Geese in north-east Bulgaria in February 1998. In: Tolvanen, P., Olien, I.J. and Ruokolainen, K. (ed.), Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation project. Annual report 1998, pp. 9-10. WWF Finland and NOS, Helsinki.Ruokonen, M., Andersson, A.-C. and Tegelstrom, H. 2007. Using historical captive stocks in conservation. The case of the Lesser White-fronted Goose. Conservation Genetics 8: 197-207.Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Tolvanen, P., Oien, I.J. and Ruokolainen, K. 1999. Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation project. Annual report 1998. World Wildlife Fund, Helsinki.Tolvanen, P., Oien, I.J. and Ruokolainen, K. (eds) 2009. Conservation of Lesser White-fronted Goose on the European migration route. Final report of the EU LIFE-Nature project 2005-2009. WWF Finland Report 27 and NOF Rapportserie Report No 1-2009: 76-80.Zöckler, C. and Lysenko, I. 2000. Water birds on the edge. First circumpolar assessment of climate change impact on Arctic breeding water birds. WCMC, Cambridge, U.K.

Map (see overleaf)