DCHP-3

barren goose

Obs.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a kind of large gray goose, Branta canadensis, with a black head and neck and white cheek patches.

Quotations

1785
[We saw] a very large species of gray goose--they have a deep, harsh note, and are called Gronkers, by others Barren Geese, from its being assumed that they never lay eggs.
1852
The natives observe, that, besides the old birds which rear young . . . there are a considerable number who do not breed, but keep in small bands, and are called "barren geese."