What is "barnacle goose"

Clake \Clake\, Claik \Claik\, n. (Zo["o]l.) The bernicle goose; -- now called barnacle goose and also called clack goose.

n. A black and white species of bird from the northern hemisphere, ''Branta leucopsis''.

n. European goose smaller than the brant; breeds in the far north [syn: barnacle, Branta leucopsis]

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.