Grey geese over Tallinn
Photos: Arne Ader
Nature sound: Veljo Runnel
Translation:Liis
Grey geese
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Grey goose; Greylag goose Hallhani Anser anser
The grey geese are the only geese that nest in Estonia. The passing migrants move along the western shores, stopping in the shore areas. Only few birds arrive in the interior parts of the mainland with flocks of bean geese.
The grey geese have the lightest plumage, and an adult bird can weigh up to four kilos. In comparison the bean geese are smaller and with darker plumage. In Veljo’s audio the calls of the grey geese sound very familiar – after all they are the ancestors of our domestic geese.
Let us try to find characteristics that help to identify grey geese: a sure mark is the light leading edge on the wings, well visible in flight. Head, neck and back are greyish, the underparts clearly paler. Body sides lengthwise streaked, on the breast darker flecks. The beak and feet of adult birds are pinkish-orange.
Grey geese
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