Species of wild geese: description of 10 breeds, their habitats and reproduction

Wild geese traditionally live near large bodies of water. They love space, cope with the extraction of food on their own, tolerate small fluctuations in air temperature well. There are about 11 species of wild geese. Within these groups, a detailed classification is provided by type, appearance, and features of the species. Wild geese belong to the group of water birds of the duck family.

General description of wild goose

Species of wild geese are characterized by common features by which they are distinguished from domestic geese and ducks:

• presence of a long neck;
• strong muscular body;
• enlarged beak.

Birds of this species fly south when cold weather sets in. The flock forms a classic wedge; when the leader decreases, the entire flock gradually decreases. By the time of arrival, pairs have already been formed inside the flock for further mating.

The way of life of geese is formed in close connection with the change of plumage. When the feathers fall off, the geese hide. After the plumage is renewed, they come out again, begin to hunt, and actively move.

Wild Bird Species

Researchers studied 11 species of wild birds in detail. Among this classification, there is an additional division into subspecies.

Gray Goose (Anseranser)

A classic wild goose named for its appearance. The plumage of the bird is traditionally grey. The length of the body is about 90 centimeters. This species has a maximum possible wingspan of 170 centimeters.

Bean Goose

Small birds whose body length is 70-80 centimeters. The plumage of the geese of this breed is interesting, among the gray feathers there are different variations of gray-white or black blotches.

Help! Bean goose live near swamps, small closed reservoirs, eat vegetables and cereals.

White or polar goose

This bird impresses those who see it for the first time. The reason for this is the snow-white color of the feathers and the presence of a black edging of the wings along the edge. Geese prefer to live in the cold regions of Siberia and Canada, but with a strong drop in temperatures fly away to the Gulf of Mexico.

Help! A feature of the breed is the creation of a large flock, in which there are up to 1-2 thousand individuals.

Sukhonos

Sukhonosy - a large breed, body weight reaches 6 kilograms. The maximum wing beat helps the bird move quickly when danger is detected. Sukhonos is well oriented at the depth of the reservoir, as it is accustomed to deep diving. When a person approaches on a pond, he skillfully disguises himself among the grass and sedge.

Mountain

Birds of this breed live in the mountains in Asia. In winter, they move to warm regions of India or Pakistan. Birds are distinguished by the presence of characteristic black horizontal stripes on the head, the body weight of the mountain goose reaches 3 kilograms. The bird feeds on berries, grass, and small insects.

Chicken

Chicken goose lives in Australia. It has an unusual appearance. The long, large, gray carcass seems disproportionately large compared to the small head and retracted, almost flattened, beak.

The wing flap reaches 170 centimeters, the body weight varies from 6 to 7 kilograms. The chicken breed is not adapted to swimming, therefore it lives on land, preferring places located near water bodies.

Nile Goose

A miniature breed whose total body weight does not exceed 3 kilograms. The wingspan reaches 150 centimeters. Birds feed on greenery, small insects, lead a calm, measured lifestyle.

Andean

The Andean species prefers to stay on land for most of its life. Birds dive into the water only when they feel the approach of danger. Small bodies of a white-gray hue are distinguished by black plumage at the ends of the tail. The color of the head remains uniform, white.

Help! Andean females are inferior in body size to males.

Magellan Goose

Magellan breed lives in the foothills and plains. Feathers of females are colored with gray or brown shades, males of the breed are distinguished by white plumage. Individuals of small size with small wing strokes, under favorable conditions, are able to live for 25 years.

Area and habitats

Wild geese live on the coasts, near various water bodies. Unlike swans and ducks, they spend less time on the water. Habitats in Russia depend on the type and characteristics of the breed.

Meadows, near water bodiesGrey, sukhonos. Wetlands Mountains Streams, lakes, ponds

Bean Goose, white.
Mountain.
Gray, white.

Contrary to popular belief that all birds of the duck family can swim, some subspecies of wild individuals are not adapted to living in water bodies. The characteristics of the breeds require them to be near water bodies, but many individuals do not go down to the water even once in their entire lives.

Reproduction and offspring

Techniques used in the domestication of wild breeds make it possible to successfully breed birds. In this case, it is necessary to follow the established rules:

1. For home breeding, it is necessary to ensure comfortable conditions: the size of the nest should be 60 centimeters with sides up to 15 centimeters high.
2. For successful breeding, it is necessary to set daylight hours up to 13 hours, no less.
3. It is necessary to control the moment of puberty. Wild breeds mature in the third year of life, from that time they begin to build nests, look for partners.
4. To keep the nest warm, it is recommended to add special down and feather bedding.

Help! In the presence of comfortable conditions, females lay from 50 to 70 eggs in 1 season.

Dangers and enemies of wild animals

Wild birds have many enemies. Human hunting is a danger. When a person approaches, the birds stretch their necks, listen, then chirp. This sound becomes a signal for other individuals, they quickly move from their place and move to another territory.

In nature, predators of the weasel family pose a danger. They purposefully hunt birds, hunt down weak birds that can be easily caught. For young animals, crow raids are dangerous. Crows steal chicks, pounce on weak geese, peck them on the head and make it impossible to fight back with their wings.

Information! The weak point of the goose is the long neck, predators try to bite into the neck with their teeth so that the bird loses the ability to resist.

Status and commercial value

A man hunts a wild goose for different purposes. For domestication and further breeding, birds are hunted with ropes. This technique allows you to catch an individual without harming it.

Shooting is done in order to obtain tasty meat. The game is highly valued because of its taste, it is sold to restaurants and cafes, as well as cooked on its own according to traditional recipes. Each region has adopted and enforced the rules by which hunting is allowed.

Certain breeds of wild birds are listed in the Red Book, the shooting of birds is regulated by law. Due to the extermination, the wave of which passed through the country in the 90s, small populations of goose, gray and white geese are listed in the Book.

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