Greater White-fronted Goose

A medium-sized grey goose. It is named for the prominent white patch around the base of its bill. It breeds in the high Arctic on the tundra of Russia and Greenland. In winter, massive numbers migrate to European wetlands and farm fields. It has orange legs and bold black bars across its belly. These irregular bars become more distinct as the bird matures.

White-fronted Geese are highly social. They are almost always seen in large, noisy flocks, often mixed with other grey geese. They are primarily grazers and eat grasses, clover, and waste grain in fields. Their flight is powerful and direct, usually in a V-formation. They have a high-pitched, musical 'lyo-lyok' call. This sound is more like 'laughing' than the deep honk of a Greylag Goose.