Greylag Goose

waterfowl · migration · farm animals

Giant grey goose. Greylag geese are big birds, measuring about 74 to 91 centimeters long (that's roughly the size of a large dog) and weighing around 3.3 kilograms. They have mottled grey and white plumage, bright orange beaks, and pink legs that make them easy to spot.

Long-distance travelers. Greylag geese live across Europe and Asia, and many of them migrate south when winter arrives to find warmer places to live. However, some populations stay put year-round, even in cold northern regions.

Ancestor of farm geese. Humans domesticated greylag geese at least as far back as 1360 BCE, and they became the ancestors of most domestic goose breeds we have on farms today. This makes them one of our oldest farm animals.

Named in Latin. The word 'anser' is Latin for 'goose,' which is why scientists gave this bird the genus name Anser. In the USA, people sometimes spell it 'graylag' instead of 'greylag,' but it's the same bird.