What Is A Group Of Geese Called? (Answered In Detail)

Do you know that vocabulary related to geese, a common type of bird, can be perplexing? This is because there are way too many names for this animal, especially collective nouns that describe a group of geese. Hence, it makes many people wonder: “What is a group of geese called”? 

No need to worry. In this informative article, you’ll get to know more about this species as well as which words you should use to call them. So, without further ado, let’s get straight into this!

Overview Of Geese

Geese is the plural form of “goose.” The goose varies significantly in the colors of its feathers. They can be grey, black, or white.

They belong to the waterfowl group, which consists of roughly 180 different species. Geese, together with swans and ducks, are the most commonly seen species of this group.

This can be explained by the fact that they are intentionally raised for human consumption or live in water bodies in the proximity of humans’ residential areas. Such environments provide them with an abundance of food to feed on, which ensures their survival.

Read More: How to Train Ducks to Follow You… and other helpful tricks!

What Is A Group Of Geese Called?

The most common name for a flock of geese is “gaggle,” which refers to the excessive noises these species tend to make. But the terms for flying geese are “skein,” “team,” “wedge,” or “plump,” the last of which refers to those flying close to one another.

Different Names For A Group Of Geese

The most common name

As mentioned above, the most popular name for a flock of geese is “gaggle.” However, such a name is not chosen randomly. The word “gaggle” also refers to a noisy, disruptive, and chaotic group of people, be they children, teenagers, or travelers.

This is undoubtedly not a coincidence. The word “gaggle” is deliberately used for geese since this species often makes loud and disturbing noises.

Unfortunately, this puts many people under the impression that geese are irritating and aggressive creatures. For this reason, at one point, some people used to hunt Canadian geese to get rid of them, which drove this species to the brink of extinction.

However, the fact that geese are agitating is just a misconception. Mature geese often hiss to defend and safeguard their young from any potential danger. They are just as protective of their offspring as human parents are protective of their children.

In addition to “gaggle,” a group of geese has no shortage of names. Those descriptive names are chosen based on location and activities that a flock of geese is engaging in. Understanding the nuances and subtleties in those different names can help you remember these words longer.

Read More: Where Do Geese Go in the Winter Time? We discuss how geese migrate here!

Other names for a group of geese

While “gaggle” is a generic term that can be appropriately used in almost any situation, it most commonly refers to geese that are feeding on land.

But geese are not constantly moving on the ground. Instead, they are migratory birds, meaning they often have to fly from one region to another to avoid a freezing, unbearably cold winter.

Such a migrating group of geese goes by different names, including “team,” “skein,” or “wedge.” The word “team” is already self-explanatory. Meanwhile, the most intriguing word, in our opinion, is “skein.”

For any of you who don’t know, “skein” takes on another meaning, which is a wound ball of yarn that is loosely knotted. This word is, interestingly, used for flocks of geese. This is a testament to how close-knit geese’s communities are.

Such highly supportive groups of geese often fly very close to their companions and form a shape bearing a remarkable resemblance to the letter “V.” This formation enables them to effectively withstand strong wind and fly for extended periods without exhausting their energy. When they do so, they are often referred to as “plump.”

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Notable Characteristics Of Geese

From time immemorial, the waterfowl family has always thrived in aquatic environments. However, the vast majority of modern species have adapted to live at the water surface. Due to their natural living habitat, almost all of them have evolved to be web-footed. In other words, the toes of their feet are joined by the skin.

Geese are medium-sized in comparison to other species in the waterfowl category. For example, swans, their distant relatives, are bigger than them, whereas ducks, a closely related member of the waterfowl family, are smaller than geese.

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What Is An Individual Goose Called?

Goose is an umbrella term that refers to either a male or female bird. However, naturalists often distinguish them using two names: “goose” and “gander.” The former refers to a female creature, and the latter means a male one.

However, such distinction is usually not needed. This can be explained by the fact that male and female geese do not often pair with each other. They only do so in the nesting season, which lasts a short period.

Do Canadian Geese Nest in Trees? Learn more about nesting in this post!

This is quite surprising given that geese fall into the monogamous group, which means animals that live in pairs all year round.

Paired geese are, without a doubt, more powerful and dominant. What’s more, they graze on grass more frequently. These two factors lead to more offspring, which are called “goslings.”

Read more: What Do Geese Eat & What Can’t?

Conclusion

We hope our in-depth article has helped you to navigate your way around the question “What is a group of geese called?”  Additionally, you’re now probably able to understand some other bizarre names of geese and why those flocks are called that way.

Besides geese, there is a wide range of birds whose collective nouns for their groups are pretty peculiar. Which species do you want us to write about in the next article? Please comment below.

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