anser

Anser is a genus of geese in the bird family Anatidae that includes several species found in temperate and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name comes from the Latin anser, meaning goose, and the genus was established by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Species within Anser are typically large waterfowl with long necks, broad bodies, and strong bills, adapted to grazing on grasses and aquatic vegetation.

The genus contains a number of wild species, including the greylag goose (Anser anser) and the white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons). Other members commonly cited in the genus include the taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis), the pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus), and the swan goose (Anser cygnoides). Together, these species occupy a wide range of habitats from open wetlands and lakes to agricultural lands, often forming large migratory flocks.

Domestication has produced the domestic goose, which is descended mainly from Anser anser and Anser cygnoides, yielding many breeds kept for meat, eggs, and ornamental purposes. Domestic geese vary in size and plumage but retain the general body shape and herbivorous diet of their wild relatives.

Ecology and behavior of Anser species typically include seasonal migrations between breeding and wintering grounds, feeding primarily on grasses, roots, and seeds, and nesting on the ground near water. Vocalizations are often loud and honking, used in communication within flocks and during flight.

Conservation statuses vary by species and region, but habitat loss and hunting pressures affect several subspecies. Overall, the genus Anser remains a widespread and ecologically significant group of geese.