Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
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Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

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Greylags are the ancestory of most domesticated geese.  They are noisy birds, gawking to each other as they fly in V-formation.  Greylags are the most common grey goose breeding in the Netherlands.  Their name refers to the fact that they are the last bird to migrate and ‘lag behind.’

DESCRIPTION: Greylag goose plumage is grayish-brown, with pale margins on feathers in the upper part.  They have white bellies and grayish shading on the lower breast.  They have a large, orange bill. 

The average length of a mature bird is 31 inches.  Their wingspan ranges from 57 to 70 inches, with the average being 64 inches.  They weigh between 5 ½ and 9 pounds, with males being heavier than females. 

RANGE:  Migratory species; range extends across across much of Europe and Asia

HABITAT:  During breeding season, lowland marshes with a lot of vegeration, as well as offshore islands.  Outside of breeding season, fresh and salt water marshes, estuaries, pasture lands and potato fields.

DIET:  Herbivore  – grass, roots, shoots, leaves, stems, cereal leaves & spilled grains
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FAMILY LIFE:  Greylag geese are highly gregarious outside of the breeding season, with large concentrations of up to 25,000 individuals forming.  Birds nest from early April – May, laying 5-8 eggs in a large nest amongst floating vegetation or hidden in reeds.

Unlike many species of waterfowl, the male goose or gander stays with the family group.  Both parents guard the goslings against attacks from other birds or predatory mammals.  The graylag family will remain together throughout the year and will migrate from their wintering grounds as a group, until the adult birds are ready to establish a new breeding territory.

LIFE SPAN:  The average life span is 20 years.  May live 30+ years in human care.

STATUS:  Least Concern
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​203-394-6565
​info@beardsleyzoo.org 
1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610
Open 9am-4pm daily
​Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is dedicated to acquainting a diverse public to the delicate balance that exists between living things and their environment.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is a 501(c)(3) not for profit owned and operated by the Connecticut Zoological Society.

2019 Kids Out and About #1
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Connecticut - Still Revolutionary
Weekly Best of Fairfield County Readers' Poll 2014
FC Buzz Events - Arts & Culture of Fairfield County
© 2022 Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs
    • Press
  • Guest Info
    • Accessibility
    • Calendar
    • For Kids >
      • Coloring Pages
      • Zoo Patrol
      • Zoo Tots
    • Our Animals >
      • Eastern Rat Snake
    • Our Plants
    • Parents
    • Zoo Cams >
      • Outdoor Red Panda Cam
      • Indoor Red Panda Cam
      • Outdoor Spider Monkey Cam
      • Indoor Spider Monkey Cam
      • Otter Cam
    • Zoo Etiquette
    • Zoo Map
  • Membership
  • Education
    • Zoo to You!
    • Digital Programs
    • Kids & Teens
    • Field Trips
    • Cool Blue Bridgeport
    • Educational Resources
  • Support
    • Animal Sponsorship
    • Appeal
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Events
    • Gift Guide
    • Honor & Remember
    • Monthly Giving
    • Naming Opportunities
    • Wish List
  • Birthdays, Private Events & Weddings
    • Birthdays
    • Private Events
    • Weddings
    • Rates and Details
  • Volunteer
    • Interns
  • Buy Tickets