Bean goose

Scientific name: Anser fabalis

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Medium-sized goose with dark brown-grey plumage on head and neck, lighter on body, and white undertail coverts. Distinctive orange-yellow legs and feet, and a bicoloured bill (black tip with orange-yellow base) are key field marks; sexes are similar in plumage but males average slightly larger.

Size and weight

Adults typically weigh 2.1–3.5 kg (males 2.5–3.5 kg, females 2.1–3.0 kg); body length 66–84 cm.

Habitat

Bean geese inhabit open tundra, moorland, and grassland areas during breeding season, moving to coastal marshes, estuaries, and agricultural lowlands in winter. They prefer flat or gently rolling terrain near water bodies with short vegetation for grazing and clear sightlines for predator detection.

Distribution

Breeds across northern Siberia from the Urals eastward; winters primarily in temperate Europe (Scandinavia, Baltic, North Sea coasts, and inland freshwater sites) and locally in Asia. Prefers open country with minimal human disturbance.

Diet

Grazes on grass, clover, and winter cereals; also feeds on seeds, roots, and other vegetation; dietary preference shifts seasonally toward available plant matter in wintering grounds.

Behaviour

Diurnal foragers active primarily in early morning and late afternoon; highly gregarious, forming flocks of dozens to thousands outside breeding season. Strong, direct fliers; wary and alert, often maintaining sentries while feeding.

Hunting tips

Look for linear grazing trails, concentrated droppings in feeding areas, and trampled vegetation near roost sites. Approach from downwind using terrain folds or vegetation cover; employ early-morning or late-evening approaches when birds are actively feeding. Decoys and calls can be effective; note that flocks are highly coordinated and spook readily, so concealment and patience are critical.

Whole weight

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

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 15 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.