The greylag goose or graylag goose (Anser anser in Latin; Gęgawa in Polish) is the largest and bulkiest of the grey geese of the genus Anser, but is more lightly built and agile than its domestic relative. A large bird, it measures between 74 and 91 centimetres in length, with an average weight of 3.3 kilograms. The greylag has brown and white plumage, a large, orange bill, and fleshy-coloured legs. The dark lines which make a twisted pattern on its thick neck are formed by ridges of feathers.

Greylag geese travel to their northerly breeding grounds in spring, nesting on moorlands, in marshes, around lakes and on coastal islands. They normally mate for life and nest on the ground among vegetation. A clutch of three to five eggs is laid; the female incubates the eggs and both parents defend and rear the young. The birds stay together as a family group, migrating southwards in autumn as part of a flock, and separating the following year. During the winter they occupy semi-aquatic habitats, estuaries, marshes and flooded fields, feeding on grass and often consuming agricultural crops.

The greylag goose has a loud cackling call similar to that of the domestic goose, "aahng-ung-ung", uttered on the ground or in flight. There are various subtle variations used under different circumstances, and individual geese seem to be able to identify other known geese by their voices. When flying in flocks, the greylag goose will form a characteristic V-shape to conserve energy by slipstreaming the bird in front. The sound made by a flock of geese resembles the baying of hounds. Goslings chirp or whistle lightly, and adults hiss if threatened or angered. After the eggs hatch, some grouping of families occur, enabling the geese to defend their young by their joint actions, such as mobbing or attacking predators. After driving off a predator, a gander will return to its mate and give a "triumph call", a resonant honk followed by a low-pitched cackle, uttered with neck extended forward parallel with the ground.

Young greylags stay with their parents as a family group, migrating with them in a larger flock, and only dispersing when the adults drive them away from their newly established breeding territory the following year. At least in Europe, patterns of migration are well understood and follow traditional routes with known staging sites and wintering sites. The young learn these locations from their parents which normally stay together for life. Greylags leave their northern breeding areas relatively late in the autumn and start their return migration as early as January.

The greylag goose has reduced its range in Poland due to the drainage of its traditional nest sites.

Anser anser call was recorded in the vicinity of Jamnik Pond in Barycz Valley (Ruda Żmigrodzka / Biedaszkowo / Staw Jamnik Nowy / Dolina Baryczy)

Field recording gear:
AT4022 pair in SASS array
Mixpre-3 II

🔔 Subscribe for more recordings: [ Ссылка ]

#birds #birdsounds #fieldrecording #polishsoundscapes

свернуть