Anserini
True geese of the genus Anser and their close relatives.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Anserini is a tribe of waterfowl that includes the true geese, encompassing the genus Anser and the closely related genus Branta. The genus Anser, introduced by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760, comprises the grey geese and white geese, with a Holarctic distribution and migratory habits. These birds are significant for their ecological role in subarctic and temperate wetlands, their domestication into major poultry species, and their complex evolutionary history marked by rapid Pleistocene radiation and hybridization.
- taxonomic_rank
- Tribe (Anserini)
- type_genus
- Anser (introduced by Mathurin Jacques Brisson, 1760)
- living_species_in_Anser
- 11
- distribution
- Holarctic, breeding in subarctic and cool temperate Northern Hemisphere, migrating to temperate zones between January 0°C and 5°C isotherms
- domesticated_species
- Greylag goose (Anser anser) and swan goose (Anser cygnoides)
- conservation_status
- Lesser white-fronted goose and swan goose listed as Vulnerable; emperor goose near-threatened
Lore & Background
The genus Anser was formally established by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760, with the name derived from the Latin word for goose. The type species is the greylag goose, originally described by Linnaeus in 1758 as Anas anser. The genus includes 11 living species spanning a wide range of sizes, from the largest bean, greylag, and swan geese (up to about 4 kg) to the smallest lesser white-fronted and Ross's geese (1.3–2.3 kg). All species have pink or orange legs and feet, and bills that are pink, orange, black, or patterned; they share white under- and upper-tail coverts, with some white on the head. The three 'white geese' (emperor, snow, and Ross's) were formerly placed in a separate genus Chen but are now included in Anser to avoid paraphyly with the bar-headed goose.
Reader's Guide
The evolutionary relationships among Anser geese have been difficult to resolve due to rapid radiation during the Pleistocene and frequent hybridization. A 2016 study by Ottenburghs and colleagues established phylogenetic relationships using exonic DNA sequences, and a 2023 analysis refined the bean goose complex, showing the pink-footed goose is closest to the taiga bean goose rather than the tundra bean goose. The fossil record includes numerous species assigned to Anser, though osteological identification is uncertain; European fossils from inland sites are more reliably placed in this genus. North American fossils are often questionable, as Canada goose relatives appear in the same deposits. The species Heterochen = Anser pratensis may belong to a different genus or represent a unique perching adaptation. Two species—the greylag goose and swan goose—have been domesticated into major poultry forms. Most species are hunted, and while many are not threatened, the lesser white-fronted goose and swan goose are Vulnerable, and the emperor goose is near-threatened. Conservation protections have led to population increases in western Europe and North America, sometimes causing conflicts with agriculture.
Did You Know?
- The genus name Anser comes from the Latin word for goose, used by Linnaeus in 1758 for the greylag goose.
- The three 'white geese' (emperor, snow, and Ross's) were formerly placed in a separate genus Chen but are now included in Anser to avoid paraphyly.
- The largest Anser species (bean, greylag, and swan geese) can reach about 4 kg, while the smallest (lesser white-fronted and Ross's geese) range from 1.3 to 2.3 kg.
- European domesticated geese derive from the greylag goose, while Chinese and some African domesticated geese derive from the swan goose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Anserini tribe?
Anserini is the taxonomic tribe that lumps together the 'true geese' — the grey and white geese of genus Anser plus the closely related black and blue geese of genus Branta. The type genus Anser was formally introduced by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760, and the tribe now holds eleven living Anser species alongside its Branta relatives.
Where do Anserini birds live and how do they travel?
They breed across subarctic and cool-temperate wetlands of the Northern Hemisphere, then migrate south each winter to zones sitting roughly between the 0 °C and 5 °C isotherms. Their overall range spans the entire Holarctic belt, making them a classic long-distance migratory waterfowl group.
What ecological role do Anserini play?
They are major foragers in subarctic and temperate wetlands, grazing on emergent vegetation and redistributing nutrients along shorelines and floodplains. Their evolutionary history is also notable: a rapid Pleistocene radiation combined with frequent hybridization between lineages shaped the diversity we see today.
Why is Anserini so important outside of ornithology?
Two of its members — the Greylag goose (Anser anser) and the swan goose (Anser cygnoides) — were domesticated thousands of years ago and became foundational poultry species across Europe and East Asia. That deep agricultural and cultural legacy is a big reason the tribe gets so much attention in food-history and farming communities.
What's the conservation outlook for Anserini species right now?
The Lesser white-fronted goose and the swan goose are both listed as Vulnerable, while the emperor goose is flagged as Near Threatened. Wetland degradation, hunting pressure, and climate-driven range shifts are the main threats keeping several of the eleven Anser species on the watch list.
More in Bird tribes 1-24
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