The ancestor of most domestic geese, it was one of the first birds domesticated by humans over 3,000 years ago.
Not listed
Indigenous: Domestic Goose
At a glance
FamilyDucks, Geese, and Waterfowl
SizeLarge
RarityUncommon
HabitatInhabits lakes, marshes, and wetlands, and even urban parks in parts of its European range.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Petter Westberg
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
5535approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Large gray goose. Compare to other gray geese, which differ in details of bill pattern and color, head and neck pattern, and have dark underwings.
Behavior
Grazes on grasses and crops in flocks, often commuting between feeding grounds and lakes or wetlands used for resting.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Victoria
Tasmania
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory
Commonly confused with
Cotton Pygmy-GooseNettapus coromandelianusTiny duck. Male has a bright white head and neck with a dark crown and eyes. Female is plainer, with a strong dark eye-line that does not continue back to the nape.→Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWild birds are dark blackish overall with iridescent green and bronze, especially on the wings. Look for bold white wing patches in flight and red warts on the face (more extensive on males). Occurs extensively throughout Middle and South America, but typically scarce. Very restricted range in the U. S., only known from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Plumage varies from all white to all black, typically with more extensive red warts on the face than wild birds. There is a well-established feral population in Florida, with smaller domestic populations spread across the globe.→Gray TealAnas gracilisPlain grayish mottled duck with a rounded crown. Note plain face lacking the bold stripes of Pacific Black Duck. White wing panels are distinctive in flight compared to purple/green of Pacific Black Duck. Told from female Chestnut Teal by the much paler neck/throat.→