Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

Other Names (World)
Greylag Goose, Graylag Goose, Grey Goose, Gray Goose, Western Greylag Goose (anser), Western Graylag Goose (anser), Eastern Greylag Goose (rubrirostris), Eastern Graylag Goose (rubrirostris), Wild Goose

Family
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans)

Size
75 - 90 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Habitat
Arable land, marshes and lakes.

Range (Guide)

Afghanistan (NB), Albania (B) (NB), Algeria, Armenia (B) (NB), Austria (B) (NB) (P), Azerbaijan (B) (NB), Bangladesh, Belarus (B) (NB) (P), Belgium (B) (NB) (P), Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria (B) (NB), China (mainland), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (B) (NB), Cyprus (NB), Czech Republic (B) (NB) (P), Denmark (B) (NB) (P), Estonia (B) (NB) (P), Faroe Islands (B) (NB), Finland (B) (P), France (B) (NB) (P), Georgia, Germany (B) (NB) (P), Greece (B) (NB) (P), Hungary (B) (NB) (P), Iceland (B) (NB), India, Iran [Islamic Republic of] (NB), Iraq (B) (NB), Ireland (B) (NB), Israel, Italy (B) (NB), Japan, Jordan (NB), Kazakhstan (B), Kyrgyzstan (B), Laos, Latvia (B) (NB), Lithuania (B) (NB) (P), Luxembourg, Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (B) (NB), Malta, Moldova [Republic of] (B) (NB) (P), Mongolia (B), Montenegro (B) (NB), Morocco, Myanmar (NB), Nepal, Netherlands Antilles (B) (NB), Norway (B) (NB) (P), Pakistan, Poland (B) (NB) (P), Portugal (NB), Qatar, Romania (B) (NB) (P), Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B) (P), Russia (European) (B) (NB) (P), Serbia (B) (NB), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (B) (NB) (P), Slovenia (NB) (P), South Korea, Spain (NB) (P), Sri Lanka, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (B), Sweden (B) (NB) (P), Switzerland (B) (NB), Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia (NB), Turkey (B) (NB) (P), Turkmenistan (B), Ukraine (B) (NB) (P), United Arab Emirates (NB), United Kingdom (B) (NB) (P), Uzbekistan (B), Vietnam.

Vagrant to Bahrain, Egypt, Gibraltar, Hong Kong (China), Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Thailand.

Introduced to Argentina, Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (B).

Population
Estimated population is 1,000,000 - 1,100,000 (2010).

Status LC
Destruction and degradation of wetland habitats due to drainage, conversion to agriculture, pollution, peat-extraction, changing wetland management practices, the burning and mowing of reeds, and hunting are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Grass, spilt grain, growing cereal crops.

Voice
Loud cackling and honking calls.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (117)...)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) [XC832839]
by Johannes Dag Mayer from Suedsee, Laupheim, Biberach, T\u00fcbingen, Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, Germany (call)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) [XC831323]
by Johannes Dag Mayer from Suedsee, Laupheim, Biberach, T\u00fcbingen, Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, Germany (call)

Nest
A sheltered depression on the ground, among vegetation.

Eggs (Guide)
4 - 7; white, often stained; ellipsoidal. Incubation: about 27 - 28 days; by female.

Subspecies
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:

anser (Linnaeus, 1758) - Iceland, northern and central Europe.
rubrirostris Swinhoe, 1871 - Turkey and USSR to north-eastern China.

References
See References.

The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7

Files:

JPG files for Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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