Jun 1, 2022 · Geese are large, heavy birds from the large waterbird family Anatidae. They’re divided into two genera; the white and grey geese from Anser and the black geese from Branta. The UK hosts a total of nine different species of geese, but only three breed here - the Canada goose, the Greylag goose and a small quantity of Barnacle geese.

Learn all about Britain's geese with BBC Countryfile's simple identification guide, including UK populations, migration routes and favourite habitats.

Jun 25, 2024 · The only native species of goose to breed in Britain is the Greylag goose. However, their numbers in winter are increased by Icelandic birds. Greylags are the ancestors of most domestic goose breeds and are thought to have first occurred around 3000 years ago in …

Sep 21, 2021 · What to look for: There are two subspecies of white-fronted goose in the UK, the Greenland white-fronted goose (A. a. flavirostris) and the European white-fronted goose (A. a. albifrons). The white-fronted goose is greyish-brown with …

It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is occasionally found during migration across the Atlantic in northern Europe. It has been introduced to France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, New Zealand, Japan, …

The UK hosts seven species of geese that breed in far northern countries and arrive here in the autumn to spend the winter in relative warmth. Five species belong to the so-called ‘grey geese’ of the Anser genus; these are large, predominantly grey birds.

The ancestor of most domestic geese, the Greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the wild goose native to the UK and Europe. In many parts of the UK, it has been re-established by releasing birds in suitable areas.

Black Geese belong to the Branta genus and include about six species including the Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, Cackling Goose, Canada Goose, Hawaiian Goose, and Red-breasted Goose most of which can be found at WWT Slimbridge. Black Geese (Branta) all have prominent areas of black in their plumage.

May 19, 2024 · There are several different breeds of geese that are native to the UK, each with its own unique characteristics and features. Some of the most well-known British geese breeds include the Toulouse, Embden, and Sebastopol.

These crosses have produced the different breeds of Russian geese such as the Tula, Asamas and Kholmogory, plus the beautiful Blue Steinbacher Goose recently imported into the UK from Germany. Out of the 16 standardised breeds, only four – the Brecon Buff, Shetland and arguably the Pilgrim and West of England – are indigenous to the UK.