The Bean Goose is a rare winter visitor to Britain. There are
two regular wintering flocks of Taiga Bean Goose, in the Yare
Valley, Norfolk and the Avon Valley, Scotland. A formerly
regular flock in Dumfries and Galloway no longer occurs there.
Tundra Bean Goose has no regular wintering sites, however, it is
found in small groups among other grey goose species. Among the
most regular localities are WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire and
Holkham Marshes, Norfolk. The Bean Gooses English and scientific
names come from its habit in the past of grazing in bean field
stubbles in winter. Bean Goose Characteristics The bean goose is
one of the 'grey geese'. It tends to be darker and browner than
the other species in this group and also has a darker head and
neck. The Bean Gooses beak is black at the base and tip, with an
orange band across the middle. Their legs and feet are also
bright orange. Their upper wing-coverts are dark brown, as in
the White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) and the Lesser White-
fronted Goose (A