The geese group is made up of sixteen members or species. And then there is the Cape Barren Goose from Australia, which we include here but some authors place in a group by itself.

The geese, with the Swans to which they are closely related, are among the heaviest birds of flight. Still, some of the species in this group are migratory, flying long journeys with the changes of seasons.

Besides the external looks, the geese behave differently than the swans. One of the most noticeable differences is that the geese are more terrestrial, with legs well adapted for walking. Also their main diet is made up of grass and grains which they obtain in the fields.