(Part of the) common name of many of the larger species of the family Anatidae; the smaller species are generally called 'duck', the smallest 'teal'; 'ducks' and 'geese' cannot be taxonomically seperated. 'Goose' is sometimes used to indicate the female only, in contradistinction to 'gander' for the male; 'gosling' is used for the young. See also 'duck(s)'. The members of the family are essentially aquatic, but 'geese' are for the most part much less aquatic in habit than 'ducks'. All Anatidae have relatively long necks, blunt, rather spatulate bills and three of the toes are linked by webs. Usually the females line their nests with down plucked from the breast and the young of all species leave the nest soon after hatching (nidifugous). Most geese moult the flight feathers simultaneously and have a flightless period of three to four weeks after the breeding season. 'Geese' (14 species) can be divided into 'grey geese' (Anser spp.) and 'black geese' (Branta spp.). They are wary birds which graze in flocks ('gaggles') and fly in 'skeins' (V-shaped group pattern). They are confined to the Northern Hemisphere and most breed in arctic or subarctic latitudes and have strong migratory habits. In spite of these migrations many species can be divided into well marked geographical races which preserve their reproductive isolation because of strong family and group bondings. Unlike most ducks they don't show sexual dimorphism in plumage. The typical Grey Lag Goose Anser anser (widespread Palaearctic species) gave rise to various domestic forms of farmyard 'geese'. Other less typical 'geese' are the Sheld Geese cloephaga of South America, the remarkable Pygmy Geese Nettapus, and the smallest Anatidae which are in fact tiny perching ducks.

Alternative form for goose : geese.