Honks › Grey geese ID: greylag, pink-footed and white-fronted
Grey geese ID: greylag, pink-footed and white-fronted
Grey geese look alike at first glance. Learn three or four features and you can sort a flock quickly.
Why grey geese are tricky
The BTO says that telling pink-footed, white-fronted and bean geese apart can be tricky, and that feral greylag geese often mix with wild birds and other grey goose flocks, making identification harder. The way through is to ignore overall colour and look at a few specific features.
Greylag goose
The RSPB calls the greylag the ancestor of most domestic geese, and "the largest and bulkiest of the wild goose native to the UK and Europe". It is often semi-tame, which can make it seem less exciting than the wild geese, but that is part of its story.
- Look for: Heavy build, a big head and a thick, orange (in many birds) bill, pale grey wings and pink legs.
- Where: In southern Britain, mixed flocks live year-round around gravel pits, lakes and reservoirs, often with Canada geese. In Scotland, native and wintering birds are truly wild. Many UK areas have re-established populations through releases.
- Status: Amber in the UK. The RSPB notes it is listed in Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which allows it to be killed or taken outside the close season; see geese and the law.
Pink-footed goose
A smaller, neater grey goose, with a dark brown head and neck, a short bill with a pink band and pink legs. It is the goose of the great winter flocks of northern England and Scotland, and the one that produces the huge skeins at dawn and dusk. WWT reports that pink-footed geese arriving at Martin Mere in Lancashire travel about 500 miles from Iceland, and that a record 45,800 were counted there, beating the previous record of 36,000.
- Look for: Small size, rounded dark head, pink legs and a bill with a pink band.
- Sound: A higher-pitched, more musical call than greylag.
White-fronted goose
The RSPB describes a grey goose bigger than a mallard and smaller than a mute swan. Adults have a large white patch at the front of the head around the bill, and bold black stripes on the belly. The legs are orange. Birds from Siberia have pink bills, and Greenland birds have orange bills.
- Status: The RSPB gives the UK status as Red. They do not breed in the UK; two populations, from Greenland and Siberia, visit in winter.
- Protection: The RSPB says current wintering areas need protection, including avoiding drainage of traditional wintering areas in southern England.
Bean goose, the rarer look-alike
Bean geese look similar to pink-footed geese but are larger and longer-necked, with orange legs and an orange band on the bill. They are scarce in Britain and usually found only in small numbers at a few sites in winter. Check a field guide or the BTO video before claiming one, because pink-foots with unusual bill patterns are often mistaken for beans.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Greylag | Pink-footed | White-fronted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Largest, bulky | Smaller, neat | Medium |
| Bill | Heavy, orange or pink | Short, dark with pink band | Pink or orange; white patch behind it |
| Legs | Pink | Pink | Orange |
| Belly | Plain or lightly marked | Plain | Bold black bars (adults) |
| Where | Lakes, gravel pits, fields | Estuaries and fields, huge flocks | Wet grassland in winter |
Details of bill and leg colour vary between individuals and with light, so use several features, not just one.
Tips in the field
- Scan a flock for odd ones out; rarer geese often travel with common ones.
- Photograph the head and legs, then compare at home.
- Learn the calls. The BTO video covers calls as well as appearance.
- Note date and location. Winter flocks in the north are most likely pink-feet.
For the black-and-white species, see Canada, barnacle, brent and Egyptian geese. For places, see where to see wild geese.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a greylag from a pink-footed goose?
Greylags are larger and bulkier with a heavy bill. Pink-feet are smaller and neater, with a dark head and a pink-banded bill.
What colour are white-fronted goose legs?
Orange, according to the RSPB. Adults also have a white patch around the bill and black bars on the belly.
Are bean geese common?
No. They are scarce in Britain and usually only seen in small numbers at a few places in winter.