Large waterfowl, between ducks and swans in size. Most wild species migrate, and domestic geese come from the wild greylag goose and swan goose.
Quick answers
What is it?Bird
Carnivore?No, herbivore
Dangerous?Can be
Geese are highly aggressive and noisy when they feel threatened, and ganders stand between a threat and their family.
Domesticated?Yes
Wild geese aren’t domesticated, but domestic geese were bred from the greylag and swan goose.
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?Yes
Domestic geese are kept for their meat, eggs and down.
At a glance
Found inWorldwide
HabitatWetland, Rivers & lakes, Grassland, Farmland
ColoursGrey, White, Black
SizeMedium
Length76–89 cm (greylag goose)
Weight2.2–4.6 kg (greylag goose)
Legs2
Covered inFeathers
Lives inflocks
Lives for10–24 years
Can fly
Can swim
Lays eggs
In the wild
Did you know
Genuinely will chase you, and remembers faces.
Geese have been used as guards: in the late 1950s, South Vietnam’s air force kept flocks to raise the alarm at intruders near parked aircraft.
Often confused with
- Duck
Ducks, geese and swans are one family. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than geese and swans.
Compare side by side - Swan
Swans, geese and ducks are one family; swans are the largest waterfowl, and ducks the smallest and shortest-necked.
Compare side by side
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