Greylag Goose, Anser anser, is a species of goose found in cropland, grassland, wetland, unvegetated or sparsely vegetated land and river and lake ecosystems. It is a widespread but patchily distributed breeder across much of Europe. During the breeding season the species inhabits wetlands surrounded by fringing vegetation in open grassland, sedge or heather moorland, arctic tundra, steppe or semidesert from sea-level up to 2,300 m. It nests near streams, saltmarshes, river flood-plains, reedy marshes, grassy bogs, damp meadows, reed-lined freshwater lakes and estuaries close to potential feeding sites such as meadows, grasslands, stubble fields and newly sown cereal fields. It requires isolated islands out of reach of land predators for nesting. In the autumn (before migration) the species also frequents agricultural land. In the winter the species inhabits lowland farmland in open country, swamps, lakes, coastal lagoons, reservoirs and estuaries (European Red List 2015).

Anser anser has a breeding population size of 197000-344000 pairs and a breeding range size of 942000 square kilometres in the EU27. The breeding population trend in the EU27 is Increasing in the short term and Increasing in the long term. Anser anser has a winter population size of 798000-1110000 individuals in the EU27. The winter population trend in the EU27 is Increasing in the short term and Increasing in the long term.

The EU population status of Anser anser was assessed as Secure, because the species does not meet any of the IUCN Red List criteria for threatened or Near Threatened, or the criteria for Depleted or Declining (the EU27 population or range has not declined by 20% or more since 1980).