Bean Goose
Anser fabalis
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.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga_bean_goose
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae
Genus
Anser
Bean Goose belongs to the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
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.
Bean Geese face significant pressure from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and wetland drainage across their breeding and wintering grounds. Climate change is altering the timing of migration and affecting food availability, while hunting pressure in some regions continues to impact population numbers.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Bean Geese breed in taiga forests, tundra, and marshy areas across northern Eurasia, utilizing both wooded swamps and open wetlands. During winter and migration, they occupy agricultural fields, grasslands, coastal marshes, and shallow freshwater wetlands in temperate regions.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Wetland drainage and degradation
Climate change impacts on migration timing
Disturbance at roosting and feeding sites
Hunting pressure
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Bean Goose (Anser fabalis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/bean-goose