Greylag Goose 198766 219655258 2008-06-16T07:39:18Z 129.241.22.13 /* Notes and references */ {{redirect|Wild Goose}} {{Taxobox | name = Greylag Goose | status = LC | image = Greylag Goose - St James's Park, London - Nov 2006.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Western Greylag Goose (''Anser anser anser'') | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[bird|Aves]] | ordo = [[Anseriformes]] | familia = [[Anatidae]] | genus = ''[[Anser (genus)|Anser]]'' | species = '''''A. anser''''' | binomial = ''Anser anser'' | binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]]) | subdivision_ranks = [[Subspecies]] | subdivision = * ''A. a. anser''<br/><small>Western Greylag Goose</small> * ''A. a. rubrirostris''<br/><small>Eastern Greylag Goose</small> * ''A. a. domesticus''<br/><small>[[Domesticated goose]]</small> }} The '''Greylag Goose''', ''Anser anser'', is a [[bird]] with a wide range in the [[Old World]]. It is the [[type species]] of the [[genus]] ''[[Goose|Anser]]''. It was in pre-[[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnean]] times known as the '''Wild Goose''' ("Anser ferus"). This species is the ancestor of [[domesticated goose|domesticated geese]] in [[Europe]] and [[North America]]. Flocks of [[feral]] birds derived from domesticated birds are widespread. The Greylag Goose is one of the species to which the ''Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds'' ([[AEWA]]) applies. ==Physical appearance== [[Image:Greylag Geese I2m IMG 8226.jpg|thumb|left| At [[Bharatpur]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]].]] [[Image:Greyleg Geese I2 IMG 8223.jpg|thumb|left| At [[Bharatpur]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]].]] The Greylag is a large [[goose]], 74&ndash;84 cm (29–33 in) long with a 149&ndash;168 cm (59–66 in) wingspan and a body weight of 2.3–5.5 kg (5–12 lbs). It has a large head and almost triangular bill. The legs are pink, and the bird is easily identified in flight by the pale leading edge to the wing. It has a loud cackling call, ''kiYAAA-ga-ga'', like the domestic goose. The western European nominate subspecies, ''A. a. anser'', has an orange-pink bill and is slightly smaller and darker than the pink-billed Asian race, ''A. a. rubrirostris''. Eastern European birds are often intermediate in appearance. ==Range and habitat== This species is found throughout the Old World, apparently breeding where suitable localities are to be found in many European countries, although it no longer breeds in southwestern Europe. Eastwards it extends across [[Asia]] to [[China]]. The geese are [[bird migration|migratory]], moving south or west in winter, but Scottish breeders, some other populations in northwestern Europe, and feral flocks are largely resident. This species is one of the last to migrate, and it is thought that "greaylag" signifies in [[English language|English]] "late", "last", or "slow", as in ''lag''gard, a loiterer, or old terms such as ''lagman'', the last man, ''lagteeth'', the posterior molar or "wisdom" teeth (as the last to appear), and ''lagclock'', a clock that is behind time. Thus the Greylag Goose is the grey goose, which in England when the name was given, was not strongly migratory but lagged behind the other wild goose species when they left for their northern breeding quarters. In [[Great Britain]] their numbers have declined as a breeding bird, retreating north to breed wild only in the [[Outer Hebrides]] and the northern mainland of [[Scotland]]. However during the 20th century, feral populations have been established elsewhere, and they have now re-colonised much of [[England]]. The breeding habitat is a variety of wetlands including marshes, lakes, and damp heather moors. In [[Norway]], the number of greylag goose is estimated to have increased three- to fivefold during the last 15-20 years. As a consequence, farmers' problems caused by geose grazing on farmland has increased considerably. This problem is also evident for the [[pink-footed goose]]. Within science, the greylag goose is most notable as being the bird with which the [[ethology|ethologist]] [[Konrad Lorenz]] first did his major studying into the behavioural phenomenon of [[imprinting (psychology)|imprinting]]. [[Image:Goose3.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Hybrid with [[Canada Goose]]]] ===North America=== In North America, small populations of Greylag Geese descended from domesticated geese have become established, mostly in city parks and near humans. These geese usually exist as part of larger flocks of [[Canada Goose|Canada Geese]]. The Greylag Goose can [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridize]] with the native Canada Goose, producing birds which can be puzzling to birders attempting to identify them. ==Notes and references== * {{IUCN2006|assessors='''BirdLife International'''|year=2004|id=47145|title=Anser anser|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern * [http://www.nina.no/applications/system/publish/view/showLinks.asp?archive=1000890 Strong increase in the number of greylag goose in Norway] (PDF, in Norwegian, by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research) ==External links== {{commons|Anser anser}} *[http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/greylaggoose/index.asp RSPB A to Z of UK Birds] *[http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=425 Greylag Goose videos] on the Internet Bird Collection *[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/domgeese.htm Confusing Domestic Geese] - An article about Greylag geese in North America, with photos *[http://www.birdsnetherlands.nl/oostvaardersplassen_greylag.htm the Greylag Goose in the Oostvaardersplassen] - An article about the Greylag Goose population in nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen, the Netherlands ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Greyleg Geese I IMG 8223.jpg| At [[Bharatpur]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. Image:Greylag Geese I-Bharatpur IMG 8225.jpg| At [[Bharatpur]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. Image:Greygoose.jpg Image:Greylag Goose (Anser anser).jpg| Image:Anser anser (aka).jpg| Image:Husa velká.jpg| Image:Greylag_goose_flying.jpg| Image:GeeseFlyingOxford20050326 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg| Image:Greylag Goose in St James's Park, London - May 2006.jpg|A Greylag Goose in St James's Park, London, England in May 2006 Image:Graugans (Anser anser).jpg|A Greylag Googe mugshot taken at the Rhine in Bonn, Germany Image:Pentlands - April '07 270.JPG|A pair of Greylag Geese by a [[Pentland Hills]] reservoir, [[Scotland]]. Image:wildgansflug.jpg| Image:Greylag_in_Michigan_2008.jpg|Greylag in Michigan 2/2/2008 </gallery> [[Category:Anser]] [[Category:Geese]] [[Category:Birds of Europe]] [[Category:Birds of the Faroe Islands]] [[Category:Birds of Turkey]] [[Category:Birds of Pakistan]] [[bg:Сива гъска]] [[cs:Husa velká]] [[cy:Gŵydd Wyllt]] [[da:Grågås]] [[de:Graugans]] [[et:Hallhani]] [[es:Anser anser]] [[eo:Griza ansero]] [[fr:Oie cendrée]] [[fy:Skiere Goes]] [[gl:Ganso bravo]] [[hi:ग्रेलैग हंस]] [[is:Grágæs]] [[it:Anser anser]] [[lt:Pilkoji žąsis]] [[hu:Nyári lúd]] [[nl:Grauwe gans]] [[ja:ハイイロガン]] [[no:Grågås]] [[pl:Gęś gęgawa]] [[pt:Ganso-bravo]] [[ru:Серый гусь]] [[se:Ránesčuonjá]] [[sk:Hus divá]] [[fi:Merihanhi]] [[sv:Grågås]] [[tr:Boz kaz]] [[zh:灰雁]]