Greylag goose the western greylag goose, breeds in Iceland and north and central Europe; "A. a. rubrirostris", the eastern greylag goose, breeds in Romania, Turkey and Russia eastwards to northeastern China. The two subspecies intergrade where their ranges meet. The greylag goose sometimes hybridises with other species of goose including the barnacle goose ("Branta leucopsis") and the Canada goose ("Branta canadensis"), and occasionally with the mute swan ("Cygnus olor"). The greylag goose was one of the first animals to be domesticated; this happened at least 3000 years ago in Ancient Egypt, the domestic breed being known as "A. a. domesticus". As the
Goose Goose Geese are waterfowl of the family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera "Anser" (the grey geese) and "Branta" (the black geese)." Chen", a genus comprising 'white geese', is sometimes used to refer to a group of species that are more commonly placed within "Anser". Some other birds, mostly related to the shelducks, have "goose" as part of their names. More distantly related members of the family Anatidae are swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller. The word "goose" is a direct descendent of Proto-Indo-European root, "ghans-". In Germanic languages, the root gave