"Greylag" redirects here. For the Thoroughbred race horse, see Grey Lag. For the Admirable-class minesweeper, see USS Graylag (AM-364).
Greylag goose
In St James's Park, London, England
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Anseriformes
Family:
Anatidae
Genus:
Anser
Species:
A. anser
Binomial name
Anser anser
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies
A. a. anser (Linnaeus, 1758) Western greylag goose
A. a. rubrirostris R. Swinhoe, 1871 Eastern greylag goose
A. a. domesticus (Kerr, 1792) Domestic goose
Green: breeding, orange: non-breeding
Synonyms
Anas anser Linnaeus, 1758
Anser cinereus Meyer
The greylag goose or graylag goose (Anser anser) 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 (29 and 36 in) in length, with an average weight of 3.3 kilograms (7 lb 4 oz). 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".
Greylag geese travel to their northerly breeding grounds in spring, nesting on moorlands, in marshes, around lakes and on coastal islands. They normally mate for life and nest on the ground among vegetation. A clutch of three to five eggs is laid; the female incubates the eggs and both parents defend and rear the young. The birds stay together as a family group, migrating southwards in autumn as part of a flock, and separating the following year. During the winter they occupy semi-aquatic habitats, estuaries, marshes and flooded fields, feeding on grass and often consuming agricultural crops. Some populations, such as those in southern England and in urban areas across the species' range, are primarily resident and occupy the same area year-round.
^BirdLife International (2018). "Anser anser". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22679889A131907747. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22679889A131907747.en. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
The greylaggoose or graylag goose (Anser anser) is a species of large goose in the waterfowl family Anatidae and the type species of the genus Anser....
derived through selective breeding from the wild greylaggoose (Anser anser domesticus) and swan goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus). In Europe, northern...
geese are descended from the greylaggoose (Anser anser). The Chinese and African Geese are the domestic breeds of the swan goose (A. cygnoides); they can...
8–3.5 kg (6.2–7.7 lb) or more (the second-heaviest Anser, after the greylaggoose, A. anser). The sexes are similar, although the male is larger, with...
geese and white geese, such as the greylaggoose and snow goose, and Branta, black geese, such as the Canada goose. Two genera of geese are only tentatively...
environments. The greylaggoose (Anser anser) was domesticated by the Egyptians at least 3000 years ago, and a different wild species, the swan goose (Anser cygnoides)...
Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen involve male stickleback mating behavior and greylaggoose egg-retrieval behavior. Fixed action patterns have been shown to be...
breed of domestic goose, descended from the European Greylaggoose. First exhibited in England in 1860 under the name 'Sebastopol goose'; they were also...
twenty different breeds of knob goose.: 4 Unlike the majority of goose breeds, which derive from the greylaggoose (Anser anser), the Chinese belongs...
the upper wing-coverts being nearly of the same bluish-grey as in the greylaggoose. In size and bill structure, it is very similar to Anser fabalis rossicus...
the upper wing-coverts being nearly of the same bluish-grey as in the greylaggoose. In size and bill structure, it is very similar to Anser fabalis rossicus...
the upper wing-coverts being nearly of the same bluish-grey as in the greylaggoose. There are two subspecies: A. s. rossicus Buturlin, 1933. Northern Russian...
Ontario, Canada Wild Goose (beer), a brand of beer of the Logan Shaw Brewing Company Greylaggoose, or wild goose The Wild Goose, a hand-written newspaper...
pollution of the black duck gene pool. Hybrids between Greylaggoose (Anser anser) and Canada goose (Branta canadensis). Order Galliformes Gamebird hybrids...
wild forebears of domestic geese, the greylaggoose. They are similar in color to the Pilgrim Goose and Shetland Goose, and are also sexually dimorphic. In...
nature conservation. Konrad Lorenz made important observations of the greylaggoose at the lake. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Almsee. "Seeprofil...
Anser djuktaiensis or Dyuktai goose is an extinct goose, similar to but larger than the extant greylaggoose, the remains of which have been found in the...
acht Todsünden der zivilisierten Menschheit, 1973) The Year of the GreylagGoose (1979) (Das Jahr der Graugans, 1979) The Foundations of Ethology (1982)...
few breeders of the Historical Pomeranian goose." The Pomeranian is the only descendant of the Greylaggoose specifically bred for a single-lobed paunch...
animals in Sweden. The Scania goose is a large breed similar to the Pomeranian goose, derived ultimately from the greylaggoose. The breed is hardy enough...
Mabey note in Birds Britannica that the greylaggoose has for millennia been associated with fertility, that "goose" still has a sexual meaning in British...
cormorant and great black-backed gull) and waterfowl (mallard, greylaggoose and pink-footed goose). The meat of some seabirds contains fish oil. It is placed...
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