Greylag Goose: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Ducks, Geese and Swans · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. A greylag's loud cackle comes in subtle variations, and geese seem able to pick out birds they know just from their voices.
2. After chasing off a predator, a gander returns to his mate with a proud "triumph call". His partner and even the chicks answer back.
3. Young greylags migrate with their family. They learn the old routes, stopovers and winter homes by following their parents.
4. Most breeds of farmyard goose come from the greylag. People had already tamed it by at least 1360 BCE.
5. In 390 BCE, sacred geese kept on Rome's Capitoline Hill sounded the alarm as the Gauls launched their attack.

The quiz

1. How do greylag geese seem to recognise geese they know?

• By the colour of their feet
• By their voices (correct)
• By the shape of their nest
• By their smell

Geese seem able to identify birds they know from their voices.

2. What does a gander do after driving off a predator?

• He hides in the reeds
• He flies off alone for the night
• He starts building a new nest
• He returns to his mate with a triumph call (correct)

He goes back to his mate and gives a triumph call, and the family answers.

3. How do young greylags learn where to migrate?

• From their parents (correct)
• By following passing cranes
• By flying in a group of young birds only
• By following the coastline at random

The young learn the routes, stopovers and wintering sites from their parents.

4. By when at least had people domesticated the greylag goose?

• 1758
• 1360 BCE (correct)
• The 1950s
• 1360 CE

People had tamed the greylag by 1360 BCE at the latest.

5. What did the sacred geese on Rome's Capitoline Hill do in 390 BCE?

• They led the army into battle
• They carried messages to other cities
• They raised the alarm when the Gauls attacked (correct)
• They were set free in the river

The geese sounded the alarm as the Gauls attacked in 390 BCE.

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