Duck or goose?
How to tell them apart
Ducks, geese and swans are one family. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than geese and swans.
Quick answers
They differ on 3 of the 8 quick answers: carnivore, dangerous, kept as a pet.
| Question | Duck | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Bird | Bird |
| Carnivore? differs | Omnivore | No, herbivore |
| Dangerous? differs | No | Can be |
| Domesticated? | Yes | Yes |
| Awake when? | Daytime | Daytime |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? differs | Sometimes | No |
| Do people eat it? | Yes | Yes |
At a glance
| Question | Duck | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Found in | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Habitat differs | Rivers & lakes, Wetland, Coast, Farmland | Wetland, Rivers & lakes, Grassland, Farmland |
| Size differs | Small | Medium |
| Length differs | – | 76–89 cm (greylag goose) |
| Weight differs | About 1.1 kg (mallard) | 2.2–4.6 kg (greylag goose) |
| Legs | 2 | 2 |
| Covered in | Feathers | Feathers |
| Lives | In flocks | In flocks |
| Lives for differs | 5–10 years | 10–24 years |
| Can fly | Yes | Yes |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | Yes | Yes |
About each
Duck
Waterbirds of the same family as geese and swans, but generally smaller and shorter-necked. Domestic ducks come mainly from the mallard, domesticated in China around 2000 BC.
Goose
Large waterfowl, between ducks and swans in size. Most wild species migrate, and domestic geese come from the wild greylag goose and swan goose.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.