Greylag Goose

Is a large and robustly built waterfowl species measuring between 74 and 91 centimeters in length, with a wingspan ranging from 147 to 180 centimeters and a body weight of 2.5 to 4.1 kilograms. The plumage is overall grayish-brown, displaying a distinct scaly pattern on the back and flanks formed by the pale margins of the feathers. It is distinguished by its bulky head and a strong, unpatterned orange or pink bill featuring a white nail at the tip. Its legs and webbed feet are a characteristic pale pink. In flight, the pale silvery-gray forewings contrast sharply with the darker flight feathers, serving as a key diagnostic feature. Sexual dimorphism is minimal, though males are on average slightly larger and heavier than females.

Geographical distribution: Occupies a vast range across the Palearctic region. Its breeding grounds extend from Iceland, the British Isles, and Scandinavia, across Central Europe and Russia, to eastern Siberia and northern China. During the autumn, migratory populations from northern and eastern zones travel south to spend the winter in the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, the Middle East, India, and southeastern China, while some populations in Western Europe remain resident year-round.

Habitat: Is closely associated with open wetlands containing shallow fresh or brackish water. Ideal environments include marshes, shallow lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, reed beds, and river deltas. It requires adjacent open terrestrial spaces, such as damp grasslands, pastures, and agricultural fields, which provide both abundant foraging opportunities and excellent visibility to detect oncoming terrestrial predators.

Feeding: Exhibits a strictly herbivorous diet, demonstrating high dietary flexibility depending on seasonal resource availability. It feeds on grasses, sedges, roots, tubers, leaves, and seeds of various wetland plants such as Phragmites and Typha. During autumn and winter, it heavily relies on agricultural landscapes, feeding on leftover grains such as wheat, barley, and corn, as well as excavating spilled potatoes and sugar beets from harvested fields, which helps maintain crucial energy reserves.

Behavior: Is a highly social and gregarious species, forming massive flocks during the non-breeding season. Migrational flights are performed in structured V-shaped formations that optimize aerodynamic efficiency and allow continuous vocal contact. It possesses a loud, resonant honking call. The species is known for strong family cohesion, with family units remaining together during migration and throughout the wintering period, where experienced adults guide juveniles to traditional feeding and roosting grounds.

Nesting: Exhibits a strictly monogamous mating system, with pairs forming long-term bonds that often last for life. Breeding begins in early spring, when the pair selects a secluded nesting site on the ground, typically concealed within dense reed beds, on predator-free lake islands, or under low shoreline vegetation. The female constructs a large cup-shaped nest using twigs, reeds, and grass, lining the interior with a soft layer of down plucked from her breast. A clutch typically consists of 4 to 6 creamy-white eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for 27 to 29 days, while the male guards the territory. The goslings are precocial, leaving the nest within hours of hatching to follow both parents to safe foraging waters.

Conservation status: Is currently evaluated as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Although historical populations suffered declines due to unregulated hunting and habitat degradation, conservation measures, habitat restoration, and the species´ high adaptability to agricultural environments have led to a significant population increase and range expansion across most of its distribution.