WEBIOCOSM ZOO
Last Updated August 27, 2006
(Click to enlarge)
Anser anser
Greylag Goose (Domestic)
On the Right
Anser cygnoides
Swan Goose (Domestic)
On the Left
The two geese in these pictures were identified
with the assistance of
Kevin J. McGowan's webpage on
Confusing Domestic Geese (and hybrids). On the right is the Domestic
Greylag Goose, Anser anser.
Here and
here are good descriptions of the wild form, which was domesticated
over a thousand years ago in Europe for its meat and down.
I believe the bird on the left is a Domestic Swan Goose, Anser
cygnoides, which is also discussed
here. The Swan Goose is a native of eastern Eurasia and is also
known as the Chinese Goose. The features I am using to identify this
bird in comparison to the domestic swan goose seen in the above link,
include the knob behind the bill, the white patch behind the bill, and
the dark line down the posterior neck. One of the more noticeable
differences between the domestic breeds and their wild counterparts is
that the domestic versions have thicker necks and larger bulkier bodies.
References
Genus:
Species:
Genus:
Species: