The commonest goose specie, distributed from temperate to northern latitudes across the Palaearctic. In Europe, breeds in Iceland, western and central Europe, up to Scandinavia (nominate subspecies with orange bill), with subspecies rubrirostris (with pinkish bill) from Romania and Russia eastwards. Winters across most of western, central and eastern Europe, from Scotland to Spain, and east to Iran (and further east to China).