Greylag goose

    Anser anser

Castilian: Ánsar común

Catalan: Oca vulgar

Gallego: Ganso bravo

Euskera: Antzara hankagorrizta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Migratory status: Winter resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

Hunting, the transformation of its habitat and poisoning are the main problems.

Length / size: 70-90 cm / 147-180 cm

Identification: Robust, grey-coloured bird, with the tips of the feathers being cream-coloured and the anal region white, and with a pink bill and legs.

Song: It makes a loud, nasal crowing sound: "caaeeaaa ga ga ga".

Diet: It feeds on all kinds of land and aquatic plants. In winter it prefers tubers and rhizomes of aquatic plants, while in summer it consumes shoots and stalks of herbaceous species.

Reproduction: When breeding, they can form groups in small colonies. The female builds the nest on the ground in high, wet areas that are surrounded by vegetation, and the nest is made of stalks, grass, moss and down; the male is in charge of watching out for potential dangers. The chicks hatch synchronously, they walk as soon as their down dries, and they can eat alone a few hours after birth.

HABITAT

It prefers open and marshy areas, with low vegetation, or rivers that are surrounded by grain farms, rice fields, etc.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: The principal populations are distributed in the marshes of the Guadalquivir, the lakes in Villafáfila (Zamora) and La Nava (Palencia), and the meadows of the Guadiana (Cáceres and Badajoz).

In Castile and León: The principal locations where it winters are Villafáfila (Zamora), and the lakes at La Nava and Boada (Palencia).

Movements and migrations: It is a completely or partially migratory species that leaves its breeding areas to winter in more temperate latitudes. In September, they arrive to our country from Norway, Sweden, Germany and Denmark.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 55000-106000 wintering specimens.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 30483 wintering specimens.