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Anser anser

Greylag goose

Habitus (PD) H005, denoised by Pro2

Short Description

The greylag goose with its brownish-grey plumage and the paler underside is lighter in colour than other grey gees. Its tail is white and its bill is orange-yellow.

Juveniles are initially olive-green.

Features

Greylag goose

Anser anser

  • paler plumage by comparison

Rufe von auffliegenden Graugänsen

Frommolt, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Similar species

Taiga bean goose

Anser fabalis
The taiga bean goose is darker grey-brown. Its dark-brown head is particularly striking.

Greater white-fronted goose

Anser albifrons
The greater white-fronted goose is smaller and easily identifiable from the white blaze on its forehead.
Habitus (CC BY-SA 2.5) Andreas Trepte

In the city

Greylag geese can be seen in towns on lakes and ponds. They may forage for food in quite far away areas. In towns, parks with expansive meadows and bodies of water may be suitable.

Dogs are a major nuisance, particularly in parks. Humans frequently feel bothered and disturbed by these birds appearing in flocks and their excrements and feeding damage.

Fun Facts

  • Greylag geese are an ancestral form of domestic geese kept as livestock.

  • The migratory birds can be seen from March to October. From mid-October, they fly to the western Mediterranean where they hibernate.

  • The migratory routes of the greylag goose are not genetically determined but vary.

  • Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Habitus (CC BY-SA 4.0) Acabashi

Sources

Habitus , H005, denoised by Pro2, PD, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Graugans_Anser_Anser.jpg

Habitus , Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Greylag-Goose.jpg

Habitus , Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Anser_anser%27_Greylag_goose_in_Lordship_Recreation_Ground_Haringey_London_England_1.jpg

Bejcek, V. (1988) Zugvögel, Hanau/Main: Verlag Werner Dausien.

Witt, K. & Steiof, K. (2013) Rote Liste und Liste der Brutvögel von Berlin, 3. version, 15.11.2013. : Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. (eds.) Berliner Ornithologischer Bericht, volume 23, Berlin: Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V., 1-23.

NABU – Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V. (2016) Rote Liste der Brutvögel Deutschlands. 5. version, published August 2016, URL: https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/voegel/artenschutz/rote-listen/10221.html (Accessed: 07.04.2017).

Page „Graugans“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 15.10.2015, 16:25 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Graugans&oldid=147034731 (Accessed: 10.02.2016).

Käßmann, S. & Woog, F. (2008) Winterliche Verbreitungsmuster und Habitatnutzung von Graugänsen Anser anser in einer süddeutschen Großstadt, Vogelwarte: Zeitschrift für Vogelkunde, 46, 131-138.