Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: Black-winged Grass Goose
- Scientific name: Andean Goose, Chloephaga melanoptera
- Classification: Waterfowl
- Family and genus: Anseriformes, Anatidae, Aperturei
Vital signs data
- Body length: 70-80 cm
- Weight: 2.7-3.6kg
- Lifespan: No verification data available.
Significant features
It has bony spurs at the bend of its wings, which are powerful weapons. Although its anatomical features are similar to those of a goose, it is not a true goose.
Distribution and Habitat
They are distributed in South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands (also known as the Malvinas Islands).
They inhabit alpine lakes, swamps, grasslands and wetlands, and rocky or pebble areas along coastlines, at altitudes above 3000 meters in central Peru, the northernmost part of Chile to central Argentina, southern and western Bolivia, and the highlands of the Andes Mountains. In winter, due to harsh weather conditions, the Black-winged Goose descends to valleys and plains. Their flight speed is slow and unpredictable.
Appearance
The Black-winged Grass Goose measures 70-80 cm in length and weighs 2700-3600g. Its beak appears short relative to its large body. Sexes are similar in appearance, and its plumage is predominantly white. The head and neck are white, while the primary and secondary flight feathers and tail are black and glossy. The shoulders have a mottled black and white appearance. The legs are pink or orange. The iris is dark brown, and a thin pink ring surrounds the eyes.
Young geese have duller gray plumage than adult geese, with grayish-white heads and necks. The black parts of their feathers are also less distinct.
Detailed introduction
The Black-winged Grass Goose (scientific name: Chloephaga melanoptera) is a bird belonging to the family Anatidae in the order Anseriformes.
Black-winged Grass Geese frequently inhabit nearby freshwater areas and coastal lagoons. They are primarily terrestrial, but not excellent swimmers, raising their chest and hindquarters when entering the water. They are wary and timid, and people cannot approach them; they often fly away or swim away at the sight of humans. They graze near water, foraging mainly for grasses, seeds, and various aquatic plants.
The breeding season for Black-winged Grass Geese is from November to January of the following year. They typically breed near the edges of lakes, rivers, ponds, and marshes. Nests are built in rock crevices or burrows on sandy slopes. Male geese are highly territorial. Female geese line the nest with plants, and after laying eggs, they pluck a large amount of down feathers from their own bodies and place them inside. Each clutch contains 5-10 white eggs, with an incubation period of 30 days. The chicks are precocial, able to swim and move around as early as the second day after hatching, and reach sexual maturity at two years of age.
Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Birds, 2009 ver 3.1.
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