Page 64 - Present Day Wildlife_Float

A goose* (plural: geese) is a wild water bird, that is a member of the family Anatidae.
There are several groups or genera in this family two of which contain true geese; 1. Gene-
ra Anser, (grey geese and white geese) and 2. Genera Branta (black geese). A subfamily,
Tadorninae, contains geese not considered
true geese like the, Egyptian and Orinoco
goose. Other water birds found in the family
Anatidae are swans and ducks. True geese are
more prevalent in the northern hemisphere,
and can be found in vast numbers in Europe,
Asia and North America. They come in all sizes
from the largest representative the Giant Can-
ada goose which weighs around 9,000 grams ,
has a wingspan of between 480 to 550 mm and
a tail of about 147 to 170 mm. The smallest, (Is
not a true geese but is often cited as the small-
est) is the pygmy geese in the genus Nettapus.
has an individual wing length of only 142 to
165 mm and weighs around 285 grams.

There are two distinct groups of geese,
the wild goose, like those in the Anser and
Branta genera and the Domestic goose (not ad-
dressed on this page), like the Chinese goose
and the Emden goose. As they owe their ori-
gins to the wild geese their dominant wild
Genus Anser geese colours, greys, whites, browns and blacks make them look very similar
Bar-headed goose to the wild geese. However they are usually much heavier and plumper than
Emperor goose their wild counterparts. Also, domestic geese and any domestic geese gone
wild do not migrate. Only wild geese form those long squawking ‘V’ shapes in
Ross's goose the sky as they migrate. (search: Non-Migratory geese) Another contentious
Snow goose and arguable point is the difference between true geese and not true geese.
Greylag goose True geese are normally found within the two genera, Anser and Branta, in
Swan goose
Taiga bean goose the family Anatidae, any geese outside those parameters are known as not
Tundra bean goose true geese. Any goose labelled ‘not true’ and denied inclusion in the true
Pink-footed goose geese genera, will normally have some small difference, possibly physical,
that excludes them from being labelled ‘true’
Greater white-fronted
goose Geese are herbivores and tend to inhabit areas close to rivers, ponds,
Lesser white-fronted
goose lakes, and other bodies of water, and usually close to the plant material they
Genus Branta eat, like aquatic plants, grass, roots, shoots, leaves, stems, and fruits. They
are also very sociable birds, even when they sleep they like to sleep surround-
Brant ed by other birds on open grasslands or fields. However, they never stray far
Red-breasted goose from water, and will take to the water to sleep if threatened by predators.
Nene Most wildcats like foxes, coyotes, wolves, even predatory birds like eagles and
Canada goose ravens prey on the geese. Aware of these constant threats geese are fitful
Barnacle goose sleepers, and will spring awake at the slightest noise. Being sociable animals
Cackling goose Geese are not territorial, however, they are monogamous, and partner for
Not true Geese life. At mating time both partners become very territorial, warding off any
Andean Goose intruder who dares to come close to their nesting area.
Ashy Headed Goose
Blue Winged Goose
Cape Barren Goose *Naming Terms (Wikipedia)
Magpie Goose The term "goose" may refer to such bird of either sex, but when paired with
Magellan Goose "gander", refers specifically to a female one (the latter referring to a
Orinoco Goose male). Young birds before fledging are called goslings. The collective
noun for a group of geese on the ground is a gaggle; when in flight, they
are called a skein, a team, or a wedge; when flying close together, they
are called a plump