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2

Greylag Goose

(Anser anser)
Alternate name(s): "Greylag"
German name(s): "Graugans"

Size: 75-90 cm; wing span 1.5-1.8 m
Weight: 2.5-4.5 kg

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Greylag Goose at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "anser"

This race is also called the "Western Greylag Goose".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up near-lateral view of an adult Greylag Goose (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Fehmarn, Germany, April 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a Greylag Goose (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Lateral view of a Greylag Goose (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Greylag Goose (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2019]

Dorsal view of a Greylag Goose spreading its wings, thereby showing its upperwing pattern (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Flock of Greylag Geese in their winter quarters (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Group of Greylag Geese, possibly non-breeders, on a dyke on the Baltic Sea coastline (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Fehmarn, Germany, April 2016]

Greylag Goose in a submerged meadow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2017]

Greylag Geese in a submerged meadow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Comparison of two Greylag Geese with a Canada Goose (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Eltville, Germany, May 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Pair of Greylag Geese with six goslings (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, near Eltville, Germany, May 2015]

Closer look at a Greylag Goose with five goslings (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, near Eltville, Germany, May 2015]

Dorsal view of a pair of Greylag Geese with six goslings (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, near Eltville, Germany, May 2015]

Dorsal view of a Greylag Goose resting with six goslings (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Eltville, Germany, May 2022]

Dorsal view of a Greylag Goose resting with goslings (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Eltville, Germany, May 2022]

Behaviour

Greylag Geese can form substantial flocks. Like other large, heavy birds, they know how to minimize air resistance by flying in skeins.

Lateral view of a flock of Greylag Geese in flight (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Eltville, Germany, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a flock of Greylag Geese in flight (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Eltville, Germany, October 2022]

Food, Diet

Close-up lateral view of a Greylag Goose feeding on grass (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Pair of Greylag Geese leading their offspring to pasture; note that the goslings are moulting out of their early downy plumage (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, near Eltville, Germany, May 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

grlgoos_dw_20180412.m4a anser (Poland) Contact calls(?); flock © DW
grlgoos_jp_20200517.m4a anser (Portugal) ? © JP
grlgoos_jp_20230222.mp3 anser (Portugal) ? © JP

More Greylag Goose sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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