---
title: "Greylag Goose"
description: "Anser anser — Birds. The greylag goose (Anser anser) is a species of large goose in the waterfowl family Anatidae and the type species of the genus Anser."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/greylag-goose
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Greylag Goose

> Anser anser — Birds. The greylag goose (Anser anser) is a species of large goose in the waterfowl family Anatidae and the type species of the genus Anser.

- Scientific name: *Anser anser*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Fields & meadows), `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 102868
- Wikidata: [Q25882](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25882)
- iNaturalist taxon: [7018](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7018)

## Names

- en: Greylag Goose
- de: Graugans
- es: Ganso común
- fr: Oie cendrée
- nl: Grauwe gans
- pt: Ganso-bravo
- pl: Gęś gęgawa

## Countries with the most observations

DE (18974), GB (18138), US (6498), NL (6072), ES (3760), DK (3118), AT (2906), FR (2469), IT (2281), RU (2277), IS (1937), NO (1644)

## Summary

The greylag 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…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greylag_goose

## Photo

![Greylag Goose](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/greylag-goose/medium.jpg)

Photo: Bethlea Bell · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/363249257

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/greylag-goose?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).