Taiga Bean Goose
Anser fabalis
The Taiga Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) is a uncommon ducks, swans, and geese found in 47 countries, weighing about 2.8 kg. The taiga bean goose is a species of goose that breeds in northern Europe and Asia.
About the Taiga Bean Goose
The taiga bean goose is a species of goose that breeds in northern Europe and Asia. It is migratory and winters further south in Europe and Asia. This and the tundra bean goose were recognised as separate species by the International Ornithologists' Union and the American Ornithological Society from 2007, but are still considered a single species by some other authorities, notably BirdLife International and the IUCN. The taiga and tundra bean goose diverged about 2.5 million years ago and established secondary contact c. 60,000 years ago, resulting in extensive gene flow.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The length ranges from 68 to 90 cm (27–35 in), wingspan from 140 to 174 cm (55–69 in) and weight from 1.7–4 kg (3.7–8.8 lb). In the nominate subspecies, males average 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) and females average 2.84 kg (6.3 lb). The bill is black at the base and tip, with an orange band across the middle; the legs and feet are also bright orange. The upper wing-coverts are dark brown, as in the white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and the lesser white-fronted goose (A. erythropus), but differing from these in having narrow white fringes to the feathers. The voice is a loud honking.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, United States, Belgium, India, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Moldova.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Taiga Bean Goose?
- The length ranges from 68 to 90 cm (27–35 in), wingspan from 140 to 174 cm (55–69 in) and weight from 1.7–4 kg (3.7–8.8 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Taiga Bean Goose?
- The Taiga Bean Goose is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.8 kg.
- Where can you see a Taiga Bean Goose?
- The Taiga Bean Goose occurs in 47 countries, including Sweden, Norway, Russia, Finland and Germany.
- What birds look similar to a Taiga Bean Goose?
- The Taiga Bean Goose is most easily confused with the Tundra Bean Goose, the Bar-headed Goose and the Emperor Goose.
Learn the Taiga Bean Goose for real
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