Scientific name: Anser fabalis (Latham, 1787)
Bird group: Geese
Field characters. 66-84 cm. Browner and generally darker than any other species of "grey goose", but with prominent light edges to feathers. At a distance head and neck appear black, contrasting distinctly with pale, buff-brown chest. Flanks and belly brown, with indistinct bars; vent and under tail-coverts white; legs and feet orange-yellow. Fore-wing as dark as the rest. Two different subspecies: fabalis (taiga form) is nearly as large as Greylag Goose, with a heavy and long orange-yellowish bill with a varying amount of black; rossicus (tundra form; sometimes considered a separate species, A. serrisrostris) is smaller and has a black bill with a small orange-yellow transverse band. Some birds have narrow band of white feathers at base of bill (mostly fabalis). In juvenile, plumage duller, with underparts mottled and upperparts with diffuse pattern; no white edges to flanks. Due to small size and bill colour, tundra form may be confused with Pink-footed Goose, but larger, legs orange, and transition between dark neck and light breast more gradual.
Voice. Flight note a loud, bassoon-like cackle: "ung-ank", or "bow-wow".
Distribution. Uncommon breeding bird in northern part of region. In winter in large flocks, but local.
Habitat. Nests on marshes within dense coniferous forest or birch scrub; also on upland stony tracts with scattered trees, generally near lake, stream or pool. Outside breeding season, frequents the same habitats as Greylag Goose.
Food. In winter, feeds on grasses and cereal grains on arable and pasture land. In summer, feeds on leaves, flowers and seeds of various tundra and marsh plants.
Eggs. Unmarked, ground colour pale straw, becoming brown during incubation. Texture roughly granular, slightly glossy or not glossy. Shape subelliptical. Size 84 x 56 mm (74-90 x 53-59), weight 146 g. Texture is more rough than in other Anser species.