Greylag goose

Scientific name: Anser anser

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Large grey-brown geese with pale heads and necks, orange-yellow bill, and orange legs. Males average slightly larger than females; both sexes show similar plumage with darker barring on flanks and back.

Size and weight

Males 3.0–4.1 kg, females 2.6–3.5 kg; body length 76–89 cm.

Habitat

Greylags inhabit freshwater and brackish wetlands including lakes, marshes, river valleys, and coastal lagoons from lowland to moderate altitude. They favour open water with adjacent grassland or cultivated fields for feeding.

Distribution

Native to northern Europe and western Asia; migratory populations breed from Iceland and Scandinavia to Russia and winter across central Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. Non-migratory feral populations now established across much of western Europe.

Diet

Primarily grazes on grasses and clover; in winter and migration periods feeds heavily on grain stubble, seeds, and aquatic vegetation.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious, moving between roosting waters and feeding grounds in flocks, typically at dawn and dusk. Strong pair bonds; nest colonially in reed beds or on islands.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings and grazing trails in grass fields near water; fresh sign indicates recent use. Approach feeding birds by moving low through crop stubble or along ditches, avoiding silhouetting on skylines. Flight lines between roosts and feeding grounds are predictable; position ahead of dawn or dusk movement using natural cover or blinds near established flight paths.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 27 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.