Greylag Goose Identification
Its scientific name is 'Anser anser', from the family Anatidae (order Anseriformes)
What I look like
The Greylag Goose is a large, robust waterfowl.
Its powerful legs, dull pink or orange, are adapted for walking.
Its plumage is in gray-brown tones with a lighter underside and darker upper parts.
Its neck is long and thick with a large, light-colored head.
It has a large, conical orange bill with the upper mandible having grooved edges.
Its wings are broad.
They are also contrasted with light front and dark rear.
In flight, you can also notice its light gray rump and tail marked with a wide white edge.
Juveniles are recognized by the dark tip of the bill.
My songs, my calls
The Greylag Goose produces nasal honking sounds. Sometimes you can hear a trisyllabic call "auk-aug-aug"…
or a high-pitched, long initial sound. "kyiaa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga…"
How I behave
The Greylag Goose is gregarious (lives in groups), especially in winter and during migration.
It is wary, but can become tame.
It is an excellent swimmer, but spends a lot of time on land to feed and graze.
Its flight is heavy. It often adopts V-formations, especially during migrations.
How I reproduce
The Greylag Goose builds its nest on the ground. It will be lined with down.
Adults lose all their flight feathers at once and cannot fly for several weeks. They take care of the young.
What I eat
The Greylag Goose is herbivorous.
It feeds on aquatic or terrestrial plants, roots, and seeds.
Where to find me
The Greylag Goose is often found in various wetland habitats (reed-fringed ponds, marshes, lake islets, brackish coast).
It winters in the southwest of Europe.
In summer, it is observed in large numbers in Europe.
It can live for about seventeen years.