Ashy-headed Goose
Chloephaga poliocephala
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<birdfyi-bird slug="chloephaga-poliocephala"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-sized sheldgoose with an ash-grey head, chestnut breast, black-and-white barred back, and bright orange legs. Found in temperate forests and grasslands of southern South America. Migratory; breeds in the south and winters northward through Chile and Argentina.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 69.1 cm | 27.2 in |
| Weight | 1779.25 g | 62.76 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Gray head and neck contrast with chestnut breast and rufous-barred flanks. Back brown; belly white. White wing patch in flight with iridescent green speculum. Yellow-orange legs. Sexes similar but females smaller.
Habitat & Range
Temperate forests, forest clearings, and lake margins in southern Chile and Patagonian Argentina. Partially migratory; breeds in beech forest zones and winters on open grasslands farther north.
Geographic Range
Inhabits wetlands and flooded grasslands across South and Southeast Asia, from India to Indonesia. Largely resident year-round.
Diet & Feeding
Eats grasses, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates; grazes upland pastures and dabbles in wetlands; diet varies with season.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: CV. Incubation: 30 days.
Clutch Size
4-6
Sound
Song
A whistled 'seeeeu' from males and a lower cackling from females. Ashy-headed Goose calls carry across Andean foothills and Patagonian grassland habitats.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes (Waterfowl) |
| Family | Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans) |
| Genus | Chloephaga |
| Species | Chloephaga poliocephala |
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Anatidae family