Greylag goose
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
Greylag geese can run quickly on land.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Greylag goose
- Scientific name
- Anser anser
- Japanese name
- ハイイロガン
- Group
- Birds
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Anser
It is a goose of Europe and Asia, and it is the ancestor of the European-type domestic geese that people keep.
It lives in families and large flocks, and when flying long distances, the flock lines up in a V shape.
How the Greylag goose lives
Their breeding season begins in spring. They build nests of grass stems, leaves, and feathers among reeds or on the ground. They eat grasses, roots of wetland plants, and spilled grain. Outside the breeding season, they also spend time in harvested fields and pastures.
多摩動物公園University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebBasic data
- Size
- Total length: 76–89 cmWingspan: 147–180 cm
- Weight
- 2.5–4.1 kg
- Diet
- Grass leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and grains
- Range
- Northern and central Europe, Turkey, western Russia to northeastern China, and elsewhere
Where the Greylag goose has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ハイイロガン
- 简体中文
- 灰雁
- 繁體中文
- 灰雁
- 한국어
- 회색기러기
- Español
- Ánsar común
- Français
- Oie cendrée
- Deutsch
- Graugans
- Português (Brasil)
- Ganso-bravo
- Italiano
- Oca selvatica
- हिन्दी
- ग्रेलैग हंस
- العربية
- إوزة ربداء
- Tiếng Việt
- Ngỗng xám
- Русский
- Серый гусь
- Türkçe
- Boz kaz
- বাংলা
- মেটে রাজহাঁস
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 多摩動物公園 — ハイイロガンChecked: 2026-11-03
- University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web — Anser anserChecked: 2026-11-03
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Greylag goose, look for this
- Look for the white feathers on the belly.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebEXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Greylag goose
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Anatidae
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