Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Grågåsen er en fugl i familien af andefugle, der yngler i store dele af Europa og Sibirien. Det er i Danmark den almindeligste af de gåsearter, der forekommer i landet.
Large grey goose, 74–84 cm with a 149–168 cm . Greyish-brown with a darker head and a paler breast and belly with black spotting; the marks are the heavy orange to pink bill and the pink legs. In flight a strikingly pale grey forewing and show.
Plumage and variation
Male and female: The male is larger overall than the female, but the plumage is the same.
Juvenile: Juvenile lacks the black speckling on breast and belly and has greyish — not pink — legs.
Voice
A loud cackling "aahng-ung-ung" like a farmyard goose, both on the ground and in the air; a flock resembles the baying of hounds. Hisses when it feels threatened.
Behaviour
Largely herbivorous, grazing pastures and meadows — often alongside sheep or cattle. Gregarious and flocking; migrates in V-formation or in a line in flocks of 10–50 with rough, harsh calls. Has grown used to people and will feed from the hand where it feels secure.
When and where
The commonest goose in Denmark. The population was close to extinction in the early 1900s with only some 20 breeding pairs left, but has grown to about 10,000 pairs (2010); the largest colony is at Vejlerne in north-west Jutland with over 1,000 pairs. Breeds at shallow lakes, marshes and small islands near extensive grassland.
Facts
Wingspan
155 cm
Conservation status
ikke truet
Relatives
Family
ducks, geese and swans
Anatidae
Order
waterfowl
Anseriformes
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