LC
Greylag Goose Anser anser



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 31,200,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 31,800,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor estimated 2012
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 11.6 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.1,000,000-1,100,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 259,000-427,000 pairs, which equates to 519,000-853,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2015). In Europe the population trend is estimated to be increasing (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native
Argentina extant introduced
Armenia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahrain extant native yes
Bangladesh extant native
Belarus extant native yes yes
Belgium extant native yes yes
Bhutan extant native
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native
Bulgaria extant native yes
China (mainland) extant native
Croatia extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes yes
Denmark extant native yes yes
Egypt extant vagrant
Estonia extant native yes yes
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) extant introduced yes
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant native yes
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
Georgia extant native
Germany extant native yes yes
Gibraltar (to UK) extant vagrant
Greece extant native yes yes
Hong Kong (China) extant vagrant
Hungary extant native yes yes
Iceland extant native yes
India extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native
Italy extant native yes
Japan extant native
Jordan extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kuwait extant native yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Laos extant native
Latvia extant native yes
Lebanon extant vagrant yes
Libya extant vagrant
Liechtenstein extant vagrant
Lithuania extant native yes yes
Luxembourg extant native
Malta extant native
Moldova extant native yes yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Morocco extant native
Myanmar extant native yes
Nepal extant native
Netherlands extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant native yes yes
Oman extant vagrant yes
Pakistan extant native
Poland extant native yes yes
Portugal extant native yes
Qatar extant native yes
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes yes
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Saudi Arabia extant native yes
Serbia extant native yes
Slovakia extant native yes yes
Slovenia extant native yes yes
South Korea extant native
Spain extant native yes yes
Sri Lanka extant native
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) extant native yes
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes
Tajikistan extant native
Thailand extant vagrant
Tunisia extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes
United Kingdom extant native yes yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Vietnam extant native
Yemen extant vagrant yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Afghanistan Ab-i-Istada
Afghanistan Hamun-i-Puzak
Algeria Lac Fetzara
Algeria Marais de Mekhada
Austria Neusiedler See
Austria Southern Seewinkel and Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen
Azerbaijan Aggyol
Azerbaijan Gizilagach
Belarus Cikiny astravy
Belarus Mid Prypiac'
Belgium Schorren en Polder van de Beneden-Schelde
Bulgaria Belene Islands Complex
Bulgaria Durankulak Lake
Bulgaria Kalimok Complex
Bulgaria Pozharevo Island
Bulgaria Shabla Lake Complex
Bulgaria Srebarna
China (mainland) Bayanbulak and Kaidu River Valley
China (mainland) Bosten Lake
China (mainland) Chi Hu Nature Reserve
China (mainland) Desert and wetland from Northern Urumqi to Dabancheng
China (mainland) Ebi Nur and Kuytun River
China (mainland) Niuxintaobao
China (mainland) Oasis, Desert and Wetland at Mosuowan
China (mainland) Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve
Croatia Podunavlje and Lower Podravlje
Czechia Ceskobudejovicke rybniky ponds
Czechia Dehtár pond
Czechia Lednicke rybniky ponds (Lednice fish-ponds)
Czechia Nove Mlyny middle reservoir
Czechia Rezabinec pond
Czechia Trebonsko (Trebon region)
Denmark Bøtø Nor
Denmark Fiilsø
Denmark Islands and coast between Skælskør Fjord and Glænø
Denmark Maribo lakes
Denmark Møllesø and Gjorslev
Denmark Saltholm
Denmark Sjørring Sø
Denmark Tissø, Lille Åmose and Hallenslev Mose
Estonia Irbe strait
Estonia Kahtla-Kübassaare
Estonia Küdema bay
Estonia Lõu bay
Estonia Mullutu
Estonia Pärnu bay (NEW)
Estonia Siiksaare-Oessaare bays
Estonia Sutu bay
Estonia Tagamõisa peninsula
Estonia Väinameri
Estonia Vanamõisa bay
Estonia Vilsandi archipelago
Finland Kristiinankaupunki southern archipelago
Finland Lålby fields
Finland Lapväärti wetlands
Finland Mietoistenlahti bay
Finland Oulu region wetlands
Finland Paimionlahti bay
Finland Pori archipelago and wetlands
Finland Sjölax
Finland Sundominlahti Bay and Söderfjärden
France Bassin d'Arcachon et Banc d'Arguin
France Col de Lizarrieta
France Estuaire de la Bidassoa et Baie de Fontarabie
France Lac du Der-Chantecoq et étangs latéraux
France Marais poitevin et baie de l'Aiguillon
Germany Breeser See
Germany Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany Dümmer
Germany Eastern part of Kiel Bight
Germany Eastern shore of Lake Müritz, Grosser Schwerin and Steinhorn
Germany Elbe marshes between Stade and Otterndorf
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Großer and Kleiner Jasmunder Bodden with Schmachter See and Nonnensee
Germany Grosser Plöner See
Germany Hauke-Haien Koog
Germany Krummhörn-Westermarsch
Germany Lakes of Schwerin, Dambeck and Warin
Germany Lauenburgische Seen Nature Park and Schaalsee area
Germany Lower Havel - Lake Schollene - Lake Gülpe
Germany Lower Oder valley
Germany Lower Rhine
Germany Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Mildenitz Seen, Gägelower See, Uphaler See
Germany Mönchsee
Germany Nossentiner-/Schwinzer Heide with Krakower Obersee and Plauer See
Germany Parumer See, Sumpfsee, Inselsee
Germany Pinneberg Elbe lowlands
Germany Putzarer See, Galenbecker See, Brohmer Berge
Germany Rheiderland
Germany Rietzer See
Germany Schaalsee
Germany Selent-Plön fishponds
Germany Southern Tollense basin
Germany Torgelower See and Varchentiner See
Germany Ueckermünder Heide
Germany Warder See
Germany Western shore of Lake Müritz
Germany Wismar bay and Salzhaff
Greece Lake Kerkini
Hungary Alkaline lakes of Kiskunság
Hungary Béda–Karapancsa
Hungary Hódmezővásárhely Pusztas
Hungary Hortobágy and Tisza-to
Hungary Kis-Sárrét
Hungary Lake Balaton
Hungary Lake Fertő
Hungary Lake Kis-Balaton
Hungary Lower Tisza Valley
Hungary Nagy-berek of Fonyód
Hungary Sárvíz Valley
Hungary Sumony Fishpond
Hungary Velence Lake–Dinnyés Lake
Iceland Alftafjordur
Iceland Austara Eylendid
Iceland Brúará
Iceland Hop-Vatnsdalur
Iceland Horgarosar
Iceland Melrakkasletta
Iceland Miklavatn i Fljotum
Iceland Oxarfjordur
Iceland Utherad
India Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
India Sibsagar Tanks
India Sultanpur National Park
Iran, Islamic Republic of Anzali Mordab complex
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arjan Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Dasht-e-Moghan
Iran, Islamic Republic of Dez dam
Iran, Islamic Republic of Fereidoonkenar marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gavekhoni lake, and marshes of the lower Zaindeh Rud
Iran, Islamic Republic of Ghara Gheshlaq No-Hunting Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamidieh (Omidiyeh) plains
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hilleh Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Horeh Bamdej
Iran, Islamic Republic of Izeh and Sheikho lakes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Karun river marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Kobi
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Uromiyeh
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa
Iran, Islamic Republic of South end of the Hamoun-i Puzak
Iran, Islamic Republic of Susangerd marshes
Ireland Lough Foyle
Ireland Lough Swilly including Blanket Nook and Inch Lake
Kazakhstan Aksuat Lake
Kazakhstan Akzhan Lake
Kazakhstan Ashchykol and Barakkol Lakes
Kazakhstan Balykty Lake
Kazakhstan Batpakkol lake
Kazakhstan Bolshoy Kak Lake
Kazakhstan Chardara Reservoir
Kazakhstan Kamyshovoe-Zhamankol Lakes
Kazakhstan Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Kazakhstan Korgankol Lake
Kazakhstan Koybagar-Tyuntyugur Lake System
Kazakhstan Kulykol-Taldykol Lake System
Kazakhstan Kumdykol-Zharlykol Lake System
Kazakhstan Kushmurun Lake
Kazakhstan Lesser Aral Sea
Kazakhstan Maliy Kak Lake
Kazakhstan Naurzum State Nature Reserve
Kazakhstan Russkiy Zharkol
Kazakhstan Sarykopa Lake System
Kazakhstan Shaglyteniz Lake and marshes
Kazakhstan Shagyrkol and Mamyrkol lakes
Kazakhstan Sorbalyk-Maybalyk Lake System
Kazakhstan Sulukol Lake
Kazakhstan Terenkol Lake
Kazakhstan Uyalyshalkar Lake System
Kazakhstan Zharkol Lakes
Kazakhstan Zhylandy Lake
Kazakhstan Zhylandy Lake
Lithuania Nemunas delta regional Park
Mongolia Baga and Bayan Lakes
Mongolia Delta of Orkhon and Selenge Rivers
Mongolia Khar Lake
Mongolia Khar Us Lake
Mongolia Selengiin Tsagaan Lake
Mongolia Uvs Lake
Myanmar Ayeyarwady River: Singu Section
Myanmar Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary and surroundings
Netherlands Gestuwde Maas
Netherlands Getijde - beïnvloede Maas
Netherlands Haringvliet
Netherlands Lauwersmeer
Netherlands Oostvaardersplassen
Netherlands Polders Ronde Hoep & Groot-Mijdrecht
Netherlands Rijntakken
Netherlands Wadden Sea
Netherlands Westerschelde & Saeftinghe
Norway Gaulosen
Norway Inner Trondheimsfjord
Poland Barycz river valley
Poland Lower Odra river valley
Poland Warta River Mouth
Portugal Tejo estuary
Romania Belceşti reservoir
Romania Cârja - Maţa - Rădeanu - Roşcani
Romania Cefa fish-ponds and Radvani wood
Romania Danube Delta
Romania Jijiei şi Miletinului fish-ponds
Romania Lake Strachina
Romania Stânca lake - Costeşti
Russia (Asian) Khadyn lake
Russia (Asian) Tere-Khol' lake
Russia (Central Asian) Chernoye Lake
Russia (Central Asian) Holes of the Karasuk river downstream
Russia (Central Asian) Inder'
Russia (Central Asian) Kocherdyksky goose zakaznik
Russia (Central Asian) Makushinsky Zakaznik
Russia (Central Asian) Schuch'i lakes
Russia (Central Asian) System wetland's bottom watercourse Bagan
Russia (Central Asian) Ubinskoye Lake
Russia (Central Asian) Zdvinsky zakaznik
Russia (European) Arski fish-ponds
Russia (European) Berkubinski forest
Russia (European) Bulgarski
Russia (European) Curonian Bay
Russia (European) Dadynskiye lakes
Russia (European) Delta of the River Don
Russia (European) Dunilovskoye bog
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Algashka river (Kirsko-Algashinskaya)
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Oka river in Navashinski district
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Oka river in Vachski district of North Novgorod region and adjacent areas of Vladimir region
Russia (European) Flood-plain of rivers Usta and Vaya in Urenski district
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Yukhot' river
Russia (European) Floodplain of Cheptsa river
Russia (European) Floodplain of Rudnya river and surroundings
Russia (European) Floodplain of the Terek river near Staroshchedrinskaya
Russia (European) Islands in the western part of Lake Manych-Gudilo
Russia (European) Izhevsk flood-plain of Oka river
Russia (European) Kamsko-Ikski area
Russia (European) Kazachka
Russia (European) Khanskoye Lake
Russia (European) Kiziltash limans
Russia (European) Kizlyar Bay
Russia (European) Kurnikov liman
Russia (European) Lakes of northern Karelia
Russia (European) Moksha flood-plain in vicinity of Krasnoslobodsk
Russia (European) Moksha valley in vicinity of Temnikov
Russia (European) Nizhnekumskiye floods
Russia (European) Nothern part of Gor'koe reservoir with spurs
Russia (European) Oka valley in vicinity of Murmino
Russia (European) Orshinski marshes
Russia (European) Savtsinskoye marsh
Russia (European) Shalimovskoye bog
Russia (European) Shalkaro-Zhetykol'ski lake system
Russia (European) Shapsugsko-Takhtamutaiskaya rice-irrigation system
Russia (European) Shilovo flood-plain of Oka river
Russia (European) Shumerlinskaya
Russia (European) Solotcha flood-plain of Oka river
Russia (European) Southern part of Chograiski reservoir
Russia (European) Sura environs
Russia (European) Surskoi spur of Cheboksarskoye reservoir
Russia (European) Suskanski Bay of Kuybyshev Resrvoir
Russia (European) Sviyago-Kubninskaya forest-steppe
Russia (European) Taman'
Russia (European) Tsninski Forest
Russia (European) Upper Mologa river (lake Verestovo)
Russia (European) Valley complex of Moksha and Oka rivers
Russia (European) Varegovskoye bog
Russia (European) Veselovskoye reservoir
Russia (European) Voroninski Nature Reserve
Russia (European) Vorono-Khoperski area
Russia (European) Western Ilmen area
Russia (European) Zavidovo Reserve, including Lotoshinski, Klinski and Diatlovo fish ponds
Russia (European) Zavoronezhski area
Russia (European) Zhuravlinaya
Russia (European) Zolotarevskaya area
Serbia Labudovo okno
Serbia Srebrno jezero - Golubac
Serbia Srednje Potamišje
Serbia Vrsacki ritovi
Slovakia Parížske marshes
Slovenia River Drava
Spain Guadalquivir marshes
Spain Tierra de Campos steppes
Spain Villafáfila
Sweden Archipelago and coastline of North-East Scania
Sweden Bay of Rynninge
Sweden Bay of Svensksund
Sweden Falsterbo – Bay of Fote
Sweden Fjord of Båta
Sweden Lake Hjälstaviken
Sweden Lake Hornborga
Sweden Lake Tåkern
Sweden Lake Vendel
Sweden Ledskär – Bay of Karlholm
Sweden Lomma Bight
Sweden River Helge
Sweden Western part of Lake Mälaren
Tunisia Garaet Mabtouh
Tunisia Ichkeul
Türkiye Göksu Delta
Türkiye Tuz Lake
Turkmenistan Tallymerjen
Ukraine Agricultural lands near Bilorets'ke (Chornozemne village)
Ukraine Bulakhivs'kyj lyman
Ukraine Chauda
Ukraine Chervone marsh
Ukraine Debal'tsivs'ke lake
Ukraine Dnipro delta
Ukraine Dniprodzerzhyns'ke reservoir
Ukraine Dnister delta
Ukraine Ikva river valley
Ukraine Ingul river valley
Ukraine Kakhovs'ke reservoir (Energodar)
Ukraine Kakhovs'ke reservoir (Kajiry village)
Ukraine Kakhovs'ke reservoir (Knyazhe-Grigorivka village)
Ukraine Kakhovs'ke reservoir (Kozats'ki islands)
Ukraine Kakhovs'ke reservoir (Vasylivka village)
Ukraine Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays
Ukraine Lyman lake
Ukraine Mikulinetskie fish-ponds
Ukraine Mishuryn Rig
Ukraine Molochnyj Liman
Ukraine Obytichna peninsula
Ukraine Obytichna river mouth
Ukraine Petropavlivs'kyj lyman
Ukraine Pivdennyj Bug river valley (Goloskiv village)
Ukraine River Danube
Ukraine Sasyk lake
Ukraine Shagany-Alibej-Burnas lake-system
Ukraine Shats'ki lakes
Ukraine Solonyj Lyman lake
Ukraine Stentsivs'ko-Zhebriyanivs'ki plavni
Ukraine Styr' river valley (Luchytsi village)
Ukraine Sul's'ka bay
Ukraine Syvash Bay
Ukraine Utlyuk lyman
Ukraine Velyka Osokorovka
Ukraine Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays
United Kingdom Broadland
United Kingdom Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands
United Kingdom Caithness Lochs
United Kingdom Din Moss and Hoselaw Loch
United Kingdom Firth of Forth
United Kingdom Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary
United Kingdom Loch Eye
United Kingdom Loch Ken and Dee Marshes
United Kingdom Loch of Inch and Torrs Warren
United Kingdom Loch of Skene
United Kingdom Loch Shin and nearby lochs
United Kingdom Loch Spynie
United Kingdom Lochs of Harray and Stenness
United Kingdom Moray Basin, Firths and Bays
United Kingdom Muir of Dinnet
United Kingdom River Spey - Insh Marshes
United Kingdom South Tayside Goose Roosts
United Kingdom Tay - Isla Valley
United Kingdom Uists Machairs, Lochs and Coast
Uzbekistan Achinskoe Lake
Uzbekistan Amudarya floodlands near Termez
Uzbekistan Chimkurgan Reservoir
Uzbekistan Karakyr Lakes
Uzbekistan Karnabchul Steppe
Uzbekistan Northern shore of Aydarkul Lake
Uzbekistan Tuzkan Lake
Uzbekistan Yuzhno-Surkhan (South-Surkhan) Reservoir
Uzbekistan Zholdyrbas Lake

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable non-breeding
Grassland Temperate suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Tundra Wetlands (incl. pools and temporary waters from snowmelt) suitable breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture subsistence, national
Sport hunting/specimen collecting subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Greylag Goose Anser anser. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/greylag-goose-anser-anser on 25/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 25/12/2024.