Birds

Greylag Goose

Anser anser · Gâscă de vară

The wild ancestor of the farmyard goose, breeding in the large wetlands of the Romanian lowlands.

At a glance

Status in Romania: Resident
Habitat: Wetland / Meadow
Activity: Morning · Daytime · Evening
Diet: Herbivorous: grasses, shoots, roots and other plant material, including crops on farmland.
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Photography difficulty: Moderate

Identification

Large, heavy grey-brown goose with a thick orange bill and pink legs. Pale grey forewing visible in flight.

Habitat

Breeds in extensive wetlands along the large lowland rivers, at highest density in the Danube Delta and lagoon system. In winter it uses lowland farmland, especially winter crops.

Distribution

Mainly the Danube Delta, the lagoon system and wetlands along large lowland rivers.

Approximate range in Romania

Danube Delta · Dobrogea · Danube valley and floodplain · Lowlands and plainsGeneral distribution only. This is not an occurrence map and does not show nesting or sensitive wildlife locations.

When it is active

Morning · Daytime · Evening

Diet

Herbivorous: grasses, shoots, roots and other plant material, including crops on farmland.

Behaviour

Gathers in flocks after breeding for moulting and over winter.

Seasonality in Romania

Breeds in Romania and is present all year. Dispersed in the breeding season; from summer it gathers in larger groups for raising young and moulting, and later for wintering.

JanPresent
FebPresent
MarPresent
AprPresent
MayPresent
JunPresent
JulPresent
AugPresent
SepPresent
OctPresent
NovPresent
DecPresent

Source-verified months inform the seasonal filters. Local timing can vary. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.

Breeding

Breeding begins in late March or early April. The female usually lays 4–6 eggs and incubates alone while the male guards the area.

How to find it

Wetlands of the Danube Delta and lower Danube; flocks on farmland in winter.

Photography

General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.

Difficulty: Moderate
Behaviour to anticipate: Flocks lifting off fields at dawn and returning to roost at dusk.
Starting shutter speed: 1/2000 sec or faster for flocks in flight.
Fieldcraft: Geese are wary in open country; use a vehicle or natural cover and stay put.
Ethics: Never flush feeding or roosting flocks; disturbance costs them energy in winter.

Practical starting points, not fixed rules.