A greylag goose (Anser anser), with arail in the background.
Agoose (pl.:geese) is abird of any of severalwaterfowlspecies in thefamilyAnatidae. This group comprises thegeneraAnser (grey geese and white geese) andBranta (black geese). Some members of theTadorninae subfamily (e.g.,Egyptian goose,Orinoco goose) are commonly called geese, but are not considered "true geese" taxonomically.[1] More distantly related members of the family Anatidae areswans, most of which are larger than true geese, andducks, which are smaller.
The term "goose" may refer to such bird of either sex, but when paired with "gander", "goose" refers specifically to a female one ("gander" referring to a male). Young birds before fledging are calledgoslings.[2] Thecollective noun for a group of geese on the ground is agaggle; when in flight, they are called askein, ateam, or awedge; when flying close together, they are called aplump.[3]
Etymology
The word "goose" is a direct descendant ofProto-Indo-European*ǵʰh₂éns. InGermanic languages, the root gaveOld Englishgōs with the pluralgēs andgandra (becoming Modern English goose, geese, gander, respectively),West Frisiangoes,gies andguoske,Dutch:gans, ganzen, ganzerik,New High GermanGans,Gänse, andGanter, andOld Norsegás andgæslingr, whence Englishgosling.
Two genera of geese are only tentatively placed in the Anserinae; they may belong to theshelducks or form a subfamily on their own:Cereopsis, the Cape Barren goose, andCnemiornis, the prehistoricNew Zealand goose. Either these or, more probably, the goose-likecoscoroba swan is the closest living relative of the true geese.
Fossils of true geese are hard to assign to genus; all that can be said is that their fossil record, particularly inNorth America, is dense and comprehensively documents many different species of true geese that have been around since about 10million years ago in theMiocene. The aptly namedAnser atavus (meaning "progenitor goose") from some 12 million years ago had even moreplesiomorphies in common with swans. In addition, some goose-like birds are known fromsubfossil remains found on theHawaiian Islands.
Geese aremonogamous, living in permanent pairs throughout the year; however, unlike most other permanently monogamous animals, they are territorial only during the short nesting season. Paired geese are more dominant and feed more, two factors that result in more young.[5][6]
Fossil record
Goose fossils have been found ranging from 10 to 12 million years ago (Middle Miocene).Garganornis ballmanni fromLate Miocene (~ 6–9 Ma) ofGargano region of central Italy, stood one and a half meters tall and weighed about 22 kilograms. The evidence suggests the bird was flightless, unlike modern geese.[7]
Migratory patterns
Most goose species are migratory, though populations of Canada geese living near human developments may remain in a locality year-round.[8] These 'resident' geese, found primarily in the eastern United States, may migrate only short distances, or not at all, if they have adequate food supply and access to open water.[8]
Navigation
Migratory geese may use several environmental cues in timing the beginning of their migration, including temperature, predation threat, and food availability.[9][10] Like all migratory birds, geese exhibit an ability to navigate using an internal compass, using a combination of innate and learned behaviors. The preferred direction of migration is heritable, and birds appear to orient themselves using Earth's magnetic field.[11] Migrations occur over the course of several weeks, and up to 85% of migration time is spent at perennial stopover sites, where individuals rest and build up fat stores for further travel.[12]
Formation
Geese, like other birds, fly in aV formation. This formation helps to conserve energy in flight, and aids in communication and monitoring of flock mates.[13][14] Usinggreat white pelicans as a model species, researchers showed that flying in a V formation increased the aerodynamics of trailing birds, thus requiring fewer wing flaps to stay aloft and lowering individuals' heartrates.[15] Leading geese switch positions on longer flights to allow for multiple individuals to gain benefits from the less energy-intensive trailing positions; in family groups, parental birds almost always lead.[16][17]
Thespur-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis) is most closely related to the shelducks, but distinct enough to warrant its own subfamily, thePlectropterinae.
Theblue-winged goose (Cyanochen cyanopterus) and theCape Barren goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) have disputed affinities. They belong to separate ancient lineages that may ally either to theTadorninae, theAnserinae, or closer to the dabbling ducks (Anatinae).
The three species of small waterfowl in the genusNettapus named "pygmy geese"; they seem to represent another ancient lineage, with possible affinities to the Cape Barren goose or the spur-winged goose.
Themaned goose, also known as the maned duck or Australian wood duck (Chenonetta jubata)
A genus of prehistoricallyextinctseaducks,Chendytes, is sometimes called the "diving-geese" due to their large size.[18]
Thenorthern gannet (Morus bassanus), a seabird, is also known as the "solan goose", although it is unrelated to the true geese, or any otherAnseriformes for that matter.[19][20]
In popular culture
Sayings and phrases that reference geese
To "have a gander" is to look at something.
"What's good sauce for the goose is good sauce for the gander" or "What's good for the goose is good for the gander" means that what is an appropriate treatment for one person is equally appropriate for someone else. This statement supporting equality is frequently used in the context of sex and gender, because a goose is female and a gander is male.[21]
Saying that someone's "goose is cooked" means that they are about to be punished.[21]
The common phrase "silly goose" is used when referring to someone who is acting particularly silly.[21]
"A wild goose chase" is a useless, futile waste of time and effort. It is derived from a 16th-century horse racing event.[21]
A raised, rounded area of swelling (typically ahematoma) caused by an impact injury is sometimes metaphorically called a "goose egg", especially if it occurs on the head.[22]
Geese as characters in cultural works
Mother Goose is a fictitious children's storybook author associated with several collections of fairy tales and nursery rhymes translated into English during the 18th century.[23]
Canada geese in flight, Great Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
Goose breastbone, the colour of the bones after cooking was used to predict how cold winter would be in Lincolnshire folkloric traditions (North Lincolnshire Museum)
See also
Three flying geese in the coat of arms ofPolvijärvi
^Ottenburghs, Jente; Megens, Hendrik-Jan; Kraus, Robert H.S.; Madsen, Ole; van Hooft, Pim; van Wieren, Sipke E.; Crooijmans, Richard P.M.A.; Ydenburg, Ronald C.; Groenen, Martien A.M.; Prins, Herbert H.T. (2016). "A tree of geese: A phylogenomic perspective on the evolutionary history of True Geese".Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.101: 303–313.doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.05.021
^"AskOxford: G".Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Archived fromthe original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved19 September 2011.
^Crystal, David (1998).The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language.ISBN0-521-55967-7.
^Lamprecht, Jürg (1987). "Female reproductive strategies in bar-headed geese (Anser indicus): Why are geese monogamous?".Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.21 (5). Springer:297–305.Bibcode:1987BEcoS..21..297L.doi:10.1007/BF00299967.S2CID34973918.
^"Canada Goose".National Geographic. 10 May 2011. Archived fromthe original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved21 November 2020.
^Howard, Hildegarde (1955). "New Records and a New Species of Chendytes, an Extinct Genus of Diving Geese".The Condor.57 (3):135–143.doi:10.2307/1364861.JSTOR1364861.
^Plummer, Ellen S.; Crary, Shelley E.; Buchanan, George R. (2013). "Prominent forehead hematomas ("goose-eggs") as an initial manifestation of hemophilia".The Journal of Pediatrics.163 (6):1781–1783.doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.07.012.PMID23968747.
^Boulhosa, Patricia Press. "The Law of Óláfr inn Helgi." InIcelanders and the Kings of Norway: Mediaeval Sagas and Legal Texts. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2005.
^Byock, Jesse L. "Grágás:The 'Grey Goose' Law inViking Age Iceland London: Penguin, 2001.
Further reading
Carboneras, Carles (1992). "Family Anatidae (Ducks, Geese and Swans)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.).Handbook of Birds of the World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 536–629.ISBN84-87334-10-5.
.jpg)
