Greylag Goose

Anser anser

FreshwaterLeast concernLeast concern
Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Animal Pocket card
Photo: Imran Shah from Islamabad, Pakistan · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Diet
Herbivore
Mass
3.7 kg
IUCN status
Least concern (LC)

In short

The greylag goose is a species of large goose in the waterfowl family Anatidae and the type species of the genus Anser. It has mottled and barred grey and white plumage and an orange beak and pink legs. A large bird, it measures between 74 and 91 centimetres in length, with an average weight of 3.3 kilograms. Its distribution is widespread, with birds from the north of its range in Europe and Asia often migrating southwards to spend the winter in warmer places, although many populations are resident, even in the north. It is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic goose, having been domesticated at least as early as 1360 BCE. The genus name and specific epithet are from anser, the Latin for "goose". In the USA, its name has been spelled "graylag".

Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA licence).

Did you know?

The greylag goose is a species of large goose in the waterfowl family Anatidae and the type species of the genus Anser.

Get this card in a booster pack

Other animals from the same biome

See all the animals in the collection