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Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Least Concern
طول الجناح
104,5 cm
الوزن
4475,0 g
الفصيلة
Anatidae
الرتبة
Anseriformes

حول

Africa's largest waterfowl, a massive goose-like bird with iridescent black-and-white plumage, a large red bill knob, bare red facial skin, and prominent bony wing spurs. Males can weigh up to 10 kg. Territorial; feeds on aquatic vegetation and agricultural crops across sub-Saharan Africa.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
طول الجناح 104,5 cm 41.1 in
الوزن 4475,0 g 157.85 oz

التعرف

الريش

Large; black upperparts with glossy green and purple iridescence. White forehead patch, facial skin reddish, and white underparts. Males have larger red facial caruncle and bill knob than females. Spur on wing.

Habitat & Range

Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, and flooded grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel to South Africa. Feeds along wetland margins and on agricultural land near water. Nests on the ground.

النطاق الجغرافي

Breeds across Alaska and Canada in wetlands; winters along the Pacific coast from the Aleutians to Baja California.

Diet & Feeding

Eats seeds, invertebrates, and aquatic plants; dabbles in shallow water; omnivorous diet shifts with breeding season demands.

حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern
IUCN Red List

السلوك والتكاثر

التعشيش

Nest type: CV,O. Incubation: 30-33 days. Fledging: 70 days.

عدد البيض في الوضع

6-14

الصوت

الغناء

A harsh, goose-like clucking 'uk-uk-uk' in flight. Males give a whistling hiss. Large and ungainly; its loud wing beats and harsh calls are characteristic of savanna wetlands.

التصنيف

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
الرتبة Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
الفصيلة Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus Plectropterus
الأنواع Plectropterus gambensis

External Databases

الأسئلة الشائعة

What does the Spur-winged Goose eat?
Eats seeds, invertebrates, and aquatic plants; dabbles in shallow water; omnivorous diet shifts with breeding season demands.
Where does the Spur-winged Goose live?
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, and flooded grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel to South Africa. Feeds along wetland margins and on agricultural land near water. Nests on the ground.
Is the Spur-winged Goose endangered?
The Spur-winged Goose has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Spur-winged Goose nest?
Nest type: CV,O. Incubation: 30-33 days. Fledging: 70 days.
What does the Spur-winged Goose sound like?
A harsh, goose-like clucking 'uk-uk-uk' in flight. Males give a whistling hiss. Large and ungainly; its loud wing beats and harsh calls are characteristic of savanna wetlands.
How big is the Spur-winged Goose?
The Spur-winged Goose has a wingspan of 104.5 cm, weight of 4475.0 g.
What order and family does the Spur-winged Goose belong to?
The Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Anatidae family

مقارنة

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