Anser anser - Greylag Goose
Feather characters. Barbules are from short until medium length (0.7-1.1 mm). Pigmentation is absent, but in dry slides nodes may look very dark. Triangular nodes are located on distal end, covering 30%-60% of the total barbule length. On proximal end, nodal structures are visible but undeveloped and hardly swollen, and thus too small to qualify as nodes (12-15 per mm). An abrupt increase in size of nodes is seen distally along the barbules. In a very few cases triangular nodes may not be present. Villi are absent and internodes are occasionally kinked. Prongs are mostly located on distal end of barbules, on both sides of the pennulum. Their length varies but the longest prongs may reach a length between half and the entire length of the adjacent internode.
Field characters. Size 75-90 cm. Weight: male 3509 g (2600-4560), female 3108 g (2160-3800) (Dunning, 1993). A large, big-headed, thick-billed, heavy "grey goose". Greylag differs from other "grey geese" in absence of black on bright-orange bill, flesh-coloured legs, pale grey fore-wing and rump, head and neck not being darker than body, and underparts virtually without dark bars (though breast often with black spots and blotches). Two subspecies separable in Europe: western European form Anser a. anser with orange bill; East European form A. a. rubrirostris with pink bill and paler upperparts.
Voice. Like a farm-yard goose.
Distribution. Range once continuous, but now split into isolated small areas. Recently reintroduced in a number of localities. Very common breeding bird on Iceland. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Breeding areas near extensive, open fresh waters with dense, emergent vegetation. In the breeding season frequents tundra, wetlands, swamps, heather moors, etc. Outside the breeding season on marshy grasslands, salt and fresh marshes, estuaries, floodlands, reservoirs; feeds also on fields with sprouting grain, stubble, or other cultivation.
Food. Feeds mainly by grazing on land on roots, tubers, green leaves, flower-heads, fruits. Also feeds while floating on water.