Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Aviculture references:
B7, B29, B30, B40, B94, B95, B97, B108, B128.w1, B129
D1, D8

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
• The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Earthkind
• The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

• Waterfowl Management Guidelines
• Proceedings of the Waterfowl Information Network Conference 1999
• Wetlands, Industry and Wildlife
• London Waterfowl Project FAQ's
• The Electronic Library: further reading for "Wildlife: Oil Spill Response"

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Geese
• Northern (True) Geese
• Grey Geese

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Grazing Waterfowl (D1)

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Northern (True) Geese are generally hardy and easy to manage. They are usually gregarious and many species may be kept in flocks, however they tend to be territorial and aggressive in the breeding season and some may need to be maintained in separate pens. It is often possible to keep small ducks with pairs of geese, unless the individual goose pair is particularly pugnacious. They should always be provided with adequate water for swimming.
• For a single pair of geese a total pen area of 300m² (or 200m²  for smaller species, e.g. Branta ruficollis - Red-breasted goose), with at least 20% of this area water is suggested, although more water should be provided if possible in a larger pen (D1).
• Geese are grazers and should have access to good short grass (less than 3 inches, 7.5cm long) for grazing. When grass is scarce, it may be supplemented with greenfood such as cabbage, lettuce etc.; alfalfa pellets have also been used for this purpose. Additional grain and pellets should be given, with a change to breeder pellets in the breeding season, at which time less or no grain may be fed. Breeding success may be decreased if these species are allowed to become too fat and this can be problematic particularly for the species which normally breed in the high Arctic.
• Goslings may be parent hatched and reared, although being mainly terrestrial they are more vulnerable to predation than are cygnets. Whether parent or hand-reared, goslings should be provided with unlimited grazing and other green food such as chopped lettuce, as well as starter crumbs.
• Geese species may hybridise with one another, but this is not usually a problem if they are well paired before being mixed with other birds.

(B7, B29, B30, B40, B94, B95, B108, B128.w1, B129)

Species-specific information:

• Greater white-fronted geese are hardy, and, except for Anser albifrons gambelli - Gambel's white-fronted goose and Anser albifrons elgasi - Tule goose) are frequently maintained in collections. As with other geese, they require a good area of grass for grazing, and water for drinking, bathing and breeding. A large field or pen is suggested and they may be kept in mixed collection.
• These geese may be fed mainly on grass, with other greenfoods added if grazing is insufficient. Overfeeding should be avoided, with the geese transferred from grain and pellets to only breeders pellets (plus grass/greenfood) for two months prior to breeding (B29).
• They breed fairly readily (this varies with sub-species - Anser albifrons gambelli - Gambel's white-fronted goose or Anser albifrons elgasi - Tule goose, have been bred extremely rarely). Open cover and close ground cover should be available for nesting (e.g. open field of grass and hedge for cover), also kennel or wigwam. Eggs are usually laid April or May to June, depending on the sub-species. These geese will defend the nest site, but eggs may be vulnerable to predation by e.g. crows due to the exposed nest sites.
• Fertile hybrids have been reported with Anser anser - Greylag goose, Anser caerulescens - Snow goose, Anser cygnoides - Swan goose, Anser erythropus - Lesser white-fronted goose and Anser fabalis - Bean goose.

(B29, B30, B94, B97, B129).

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme suggested average closed ring size: R 16.0mm, except Tule goose Anser albifrons elgasi S 18.0mm (D8).

• Accommodation of Casualty Waterfowl
• Rearing of Birds - Artificial Rearing - Waterfowl considerations
• Catching and Handling of Waterfowl
• Feeding of Casualty Waterfowl
• Release of Casualty Waterfowl
• See also: Oil Spill: Species Identification and Special Considerations

Measurement & Weight

Head

Legs

Plumage

Breast and abdomen buff-brown with black barring. Flanks brown with paler feather edges and white line along upper edge of flank. Ventral region and tail-coverts white, tail and rump dark grey with pale tail border.

Upperparts grey-brown with pale feather edges; flight feathers blackish, wing coverts ashy-brown.

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

Remain with parents until the following breeding season.

Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• Anser albifrons albifrons: North Russia and Siberia, Kanin peninsula to Kolima river
• Anser albifrons frontalis: Eastern Siberia from Kalima river east to arctic Canada
• Anser albifrons gambeli: north-west Canada taiga
• Anser albifrons elgasi: south-west Alaska

• Anser albifrons flavirostris: west Greenland

Migratory: south to lower latitudes in temperate Europe, Asia and North America, to specific areas. Further south in very cold winters.

London: In the London Area, "scarce winter visitor and passage migrant in variable numbers." (J322.65.w1)

Accidental to Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus, Malta, Tunisia, Libya, Azores, Madeira.

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

• This species is listed on Schedule 2 - Part I (Birds which may be killed or taken outside the close season, 1 February to 31 August except where indicated otherwise: Notes on the revised schedules state "NOTE: The close season for ducks and geese when below high water mark is 21 February to 31 August (fully protected in Scotland)") of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

Captive Populations

Trade