Barnacle goose Barnacle goose The barnacle goose ("Branta leucopsis") belongs to the genus "Branta" of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey "Anser" species. Despite its superficial similarity to the brant goose, genetic analysis has shown it is an eastern derivative of the cackling goose lineage. The barnacle goose was first classified taxonomically by Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1803. "Branta" is a Latinised form of Old Norse "Brandgás", "burnt (black) goose" and the specific epithet is from the Ancient Greek "leukos" "white", and "opsis" "faced". The barnacle goose and the similar brant goose were previously
Nene (bird) Nene (bird) The nene ("Branta sandvicensis"), also known as nēnē and Hawaiian goose, is a species of bird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The official bird of the state of Hawaii, the nene is exclusively found in the wild on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Hawaii. The Hawaiian name "nēnē" comes from its soft call. The specific name "sandvicensis" refers to the Sandwich Islands, a former name for the Hawaiian Islands. It is thought that the nene evolved from the Canada goose ("Branta canadensis"), which most likely arrived on the Hawaiian islands about 500,000 years ago, shortly