1. Greylag Goose
The greylag goose is native to all of Europe. It grows up to 85 cm tall, weighs around 4 kg and can live up to 20 years. It breeds only once a year, from March to June.
Like swans, greylag goose pairs stay true to each other for life. Their diet consists of grasses and seeds.
Their natural enemies are white-tailed eagles, red kites, marsh harriers, seagulls when they are in large numbers, and the fox.
2. Canada Goose
Originally from Canada, the Canada goose is the largest wild goose in Germany. At 110 cm, it is larger than the greylag goose. Some of them spend the winter with us coming from Scandinavia. If it is too cold in winter, they move on to southern Europe.
During spring courtship, males compete for females. They bite and flap their wings until one gives up.
Once a couple has found each other, they stay together for life. The diet consists of aquatic plants, grasses and seeds. Enemies include foxes, sea eagles, eagle owls and hawks.
3. Mallard
The mallard is the largest of our native ducks and the one you see most often: on lakes and in river landscapes, in parks, gardens and irrigation ditches. Their main food is plants and seeds, but they also eat worms, snails, frogs and even little mice if they can get hold of them.
Mallard chicks look for their own food right from the start. In January, during the mating season, male mallard ducks (recognizable by their colored heads) can be seen fighting for the females. Enemies include foxes, seagulls, white-tailed eagles and corvids.
4. Coot
The coot belongs to the rail family (a family of cranes) and can be found almost everywhere in Europe. Standing water is preferred for breeding.
Rooster and hen have a black head with a white forehead, white beak and red eyes - they cannot be distinguished externally.
The coot feeds mainly on plant residues, grass, algae, water lily petals, but does not disdain insects, snails, mussels and small fish. The enemies are foxes, marsupials, seagulls and white-tailed eagles.
5. Moorhen
Moorhen can be found almost everywhere in Europe. Males and females also look the same among them; they have red eyes, a red forehead plate and a yellow beak tip.
Their diet consists of aquatic plants, seeds and berries, but snails and small fish are also on their menu.
In the period from April to August, moorhens breed twice. In addition to humans, sea eagles, gulls, peregrine falcons and marsh harriers, but also foxes threaten their lives.