INDEX - Europe
INDEX - World 
BIRDS of THE WORLD

WATERFOWL of Europe

The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie Goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. All species in the order are web-footed for efficient swimming and have a large wide bill with a specialized tongue that allows water to be sucked in the front of the bill. An array of plates traps food particles as the water is expelled out the sides of the bill. Not all species feed this way, some graze on plants and some also catch fish. [abstracted from Wikipedia]



Geese

Order Anseriformes    Family Anatidae

The following genus comprise the true geese: Anser, Branta, and Chen. They are large, monogamous waterfowl. The Cape Barren Goose, Spur-winged Goose, and Magpie Goose are not true geese. Similary, many species termed goose actually belong to the shelduck subfamily. The closest relatives of the true geese are the swans of genus cygnus.


Genus Anser

Goose, Greater White-fronted aka White-fronted Goose  Anser albifrons  Found: North America, Europe, Asia
The Lesser White-fronted Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose are similar. The Lesser has a bright yellow eye-ring, are smaller in size than the Greater, and the whte front extends to the crown of the head.
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights  3, 4) Alan Vernon   5, 6) Dick - Sylvan Heights
1) This bird has a faint yellow eye-ring, not to be confused with the brighter eye-ring of a Lesser White-fronted Goose.
1, 2, 5, 6) Tule Goose (Anser a. Elgasi)



Goose, Greylag Anser anser   Found: North America (escaped captive), Europe, Asia
Photographed by:  1, 2) Dick Daniels - England   3) Dick - Scotland  4) Dick - Scotland
   5) Alan D Wilson - Fort Flagler State Park, Near Port Townsend, Washington  6) Dick - North Carolina
6) Greylag / Domestic Goose hybrid



Goose, Lesser White-fronted   Anser erythropus   Found: Europe, Asia
The Lesser White-fronted Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose are similar. The Lesser has a bright yellow eye-ring, are smaller in size than the Greater, and the whte front extends to the crown of the head.
Photographed by: BS Thurner Hof



Genus Branta

Brant aka Brent aka Brant Goose Branta bernicla   Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by:  1, 5) Alan D Wilson - Foot Of Kinkade Road, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
   2) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights   3) Dick - Sylvan Heights 4) Dick on the Cape May, New Jersey ferry  
   7) Elaine Wilson- Community Beach, Parksville, British Columbia

Goose, Barnacle Branta leucopsis   Found: North America, Europe
Photographed by:  1) Sandy Cole - Birds of Eden, South Africa   2) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden 
    3) Dick - Birds of Eden  4) Dick - Sylvan Heights


Goose, Canada Branta canadensis Found: North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (introduced)
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - England  2)  Dick - North Carolina   3) Dick - New York
    4) Dick - New Jersey  5) Dick - New Jersey  6) Dick - California
   7) Alan D Wilson - Burnaby Lake Regional Park (Piper Spit), Burnaby, British Columbia



Goose, Red-breasted   Branta ruficollis   Found: Europe
Photographed by: 1, 4) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights  2) Sandy Cole - Sylvan Heights  3) Dick - Sylvan Heights 





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