Branta leucopsis

9.9

A small European goose with a white face that breeds in the far north, called the barnacle goose

noun

: Branta leucopsis

Unlike the brant, the Branta leucopsis has a distinct white face and smaller stature.

Examples

The Branta leucopsis is known for its distinctive black and white plumage.
The Branta leucopsis migrates south to spend the winter in coastal Europe.
Researchers observed a flock of Branta leucopsis nesting near the Arctic shoreline.
Did you see a Branta leucopsis during your trip to Scotland?
Researchers observed a flock of Branta leucopsis nesting near the Arctic shoreline.
The Branta leucopsis migrates south to spend the winter in coastal Europe.
Unlike the brant, the Branta leucopsis has a distinct white face and smaller stature.

Synonyms

barnacle goose

vsBranta leucopsis

8.1

A small goose that breeds in the far north and flies south in winter

is the scientific Latin name rather than the common two-word name

barnacle

vsBranta leucopsis

Archaic

9.9

A small black-and-white goose that breeds in the Arctic and flies south in winter

is the scientific Latin name rather than the single-word common form

Surface Forms

Branta leucopsis singular

Branta leucopsis plural

Morphology

Branta + leucopsis

This is a Latin binomial taxonomic name functioning as a label for a specific species rather than a compositional English phrase; its meaning ('barnacle goose') is not predictable from the parts. Although 'Branta' denotes a genus of geese, 'leucopsis' is not transparent to a B1 learner (it's a Greek-derived form) and the overall referent is arbitrary for learners, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Branta leucopsis is the bird often called the 'barnacle goose' because long ago people saw hard-shelled sea creatures on wood and, since they never saw the birds' nests, they thought the barnacles turned into geese. That's why the strange image stuck and the name now refers to this small white-faced goose that breeds far in the north.