Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis Scientific name definitions

75–100 cm; male 4000–6800 g, female 3352–5400 g (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ). Unmistakable . Variable amounts of white on upperwing-coverts  . Female similar to male, but somewhat smaller (wing 422–440 mm versus 530–550 mm in male) (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ), with duller facial coloration and smaller bill caruncles . Juvenile lacks bare facial skin and enlarged bill, browner on face and neck and body feathers fringed brown; also less white on wings and underparts. Subspecies <em>niger</em> has less white on underparts and face (restricted to belly and undertail-coverts in female, and none in juvenile), although much individual variation and the two races reportedly intergrade over wide area (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ).

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Common in seasonal and permanent marshes, larger rivers , lakes, reservoirs, etc., particularly where they are surrounded by scattered trees (in which the birds frequently perch) (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) and near grassland or arable land. Mainly found below 2000 m.

Undertakes seasonal movements mostly related with availability of water; during dry season, birds congregate to moult, often to N of normal breeding range (L Chad, in Feb–May, Senegal Delta, in Jan), with an exceptional concentration of 60,000–90,000 birds on Kafue Flats, Zambia, in 1973 dry season (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Considered to be probably an intra-tropical migrant in Ethiopia, where most records are in Jan–Apr (at which time migrants have been observed in Sudan), but at least some birds are resident (4 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Occasionally wanders to higher altitudes, e.g. in Malawi typically found up to 1550 m, but has occurred at 2350 m (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Has occurred in Egypt (several records in Abu Simbel area prior to 1920 and again Mar 1962, but none definitely wild) (6 Goodman, S. M., P. L. Meininger, S. M. Baha El Din, J. J. Hobbs, and W. C. Mullié (Editors) (1989) The birds of Egypt. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom. Close ), N Mauritania (Banc d’Arguin, Dec 2004) (7 Crochet, P.-A. and Spaans, B. (2008). Spur-winged Geese at Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, in December 265654. Dutch Birding. 30(2): 101-102. Close ) and Morocco (Mar–Dec 1984, with unconfirmed record, Nov 1976) (8 Thévenot, M., R. Vernon, and P. Bergier (2003). The Birds of Morocco: An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 20. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, UK. Close ). References to vagrants having reached Oman erroneous.

Basically vegetarian diet; greener parts and seeds of grasses (e.g. Panicum coloratum, Echinochloa colonum) (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), sedges (e.g. Cyperus usitatus) (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), aquatic vegetation , grain, fruit (e.g. figs) (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), vegetables (tubers, such as sweet potatoes and ground nuts) (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); occasionally small fish and winged termites (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ); regularly takes grit (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Of birds collected in Transvaal (South Africa), diet comprised 13 plant and nine animal species, with crops (primarily maize) comprising 53% of stomach contents, followed by weeds such as Urochloa panicoides 11%, aquatic plants such as Potamogeton pectinatus 34% and insects, such as Somaticus spp., 2% (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Prefers to graze young grass (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) and will visit feedlots for cattle in South Africa (9 van Niekerk, J. H. (2010). Assemblages and movements of waterfowl at cattle feedlots across Gauteng, South Africa. Ostrich 81(1):31–37. Close ). Forages mostly on land, by grazing, but also in water, by raking bottom with feet, upending, dabbling or submerging head and neck (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); will also dive, but only to escape danger (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Often considered a local pest for agriculture, including rice cultivators (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), and frequently associates with Alopochen aegyptiaca (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ). In non-breeding season forms flocks, sometimes very large.

Weak whistling vocalizations, males giving soft, high-pitched bubbling “cherwit” in flight  or when disturbed, and a squeaky four-syllable “chi-chi-chi-chi” when approaching female in courtship, as well as a huffing “chu-chu” when threatened, whereas female is largely silent, but utters a high-pitched “chi-chi-chi-chi...” when disturbed (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ).

Starts during or near end of rainy season, e.g. Sept–Dec (Senegal, Mali), Aug–Nov (Nigeria), Sept–Oct (Ethiopia) (4 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), all months, with peak in Jan–Mar (Uganda, Zambia) (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), Jan–Jun (Kenya), Apr (Angola) (10 Dean, W. R. J. (2000). The Birds of Angola: An Annotated Check-list. British Ornithologists’ Union Check-list 18. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, UK. Close ), Jan–May (Malawi) (5 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), and Aug–May, peaking Dec–Feb (Zimbabwe, most of South Africa) (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ). In single pairs, although some males might be polygynous, while pair-bonding activities are probably virtually lacking and in some cases pair-bond does not survive beyond egg stage (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ); nest is made (by female alone) (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ) of twigs, grasses, reed stems and leaves, lined with down, built 20–100 cm above ground in trees such as Belanites aegyptiaca, Acacia senegal, A. seyal or Cadaba farinosa (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ), often in old nests of other birds, e.g. African Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) or even Social Weaver (Philetairus socius), when can be up to 9 m above ground (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ), as well as in tree hollows, termite mounds, old aardvark (Orycteropus afer) burrows (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ) or on ground, in which latter case is depression hidden in long grass or reeds, 40–45 cm across and 8–9 cm deep in centre (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ); frequently 2–5 km from water; nest-site sometimes re-used in subsequent seasons (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ). Clutch 6–14 pale brown or ivory-coloured eggs (occasionally up to 27 or even 37 eggs, product of > 1 female and incubated by both) (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close , 2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), laid at c. 1-day intervals, size 68–86·2 mm × 51–58·8 mm (gambensis) or 67–77 mm × 51–58·3 mm (niger), mean mass 125 g (gambensis) or 122 g (niger) (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ); incubation c. 30–33 days by female alone, sometimes guarded by male (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ); chicks  have olivaceous-brown or yellow-brown down on upperparts  with silvery white panel on wing and scapulars, yellowish or buffy below, with dark brown eyes and blue-grey legs and bill (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ); fledging  at least c. 10 weeks with male involvement in brood-rearing highly variable, but was apparently non-existent in 17 of 23 broods monitored in South Africa, and mass increases in captive birds from 90 g (male) or 87 g (female) at day five to 3000 g and 2451 g, respectively, at day 70 (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ). One instance of nest parasitism by Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) (11 Krakauer, A. H., and R. T. Kimball (2009). Interspecific brood parasitism in galliform birds. Ibis 151(2):373–381. Close ). Hatching success reportedly low, while brood size in S Africa is typically 1–10 (1 Brown, L. H., E. K. Urban, and K. Newman (1982). The Birds of Africa. Volume 1. Academic Press, London, UK and New York, USA. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Seasonally common to abundant, occurring on majority of large inland waterbodies. In 1987, total of 38,000 birds counted in W Africa, with maximum concentrations of 25,000 on reservoir of L Maga (N Cameroon) and 10,000 at Lac de Guiers (Senegal) (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and regional population more recently estimated at 50,000 birds (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ); in recent years, numbers gathering to moult in Senegal Delta have been considerably lower than in 1970s due to new flood controls (12 Triplet, P. and Yésou, P. (2000). Controlling the flood in the Senegal Delta: do waterfowl populations adapt to their new environment? Ostrich. 71(1–2): 106–111. Close ). Regional population of 200,000–300,000 individuals suspected in E Africa (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Race niger common to very common in South Africa  , with regional population estimated at 50,000–100,000 birds, of which c. 20,000 occur in Transvaal (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Species is neither highly valued by hunters nor easy to hunt, so not under much pressure from hunting (except for sport), while creation of dam lakes may have permitted some local expansion, e.g. in SE Botswana (2 Kear, J., Editor (2005). Ducks, Geese and Swans. Volume 1: General chapters, and Species accounts (Anhima to Salvadorina). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). N populations may have been affected by desiccation of Sahel zone. In a South African survey of bird species killed due to collisions with powerlines, P. gambensis proved to be the third most numerous (of 18) species involved, although mortalities were considerably fewer than for Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) and Denham’s Bustard (Neotis denhami) (13 Shaw, J. M., A. R. Jenkins, P. G. Ryan, and J. J. Smallie (2010). A preliminary survey of avian mortality on power lines in the Overberg, South Africa. Ostrich 81(2):109–113. Close ). CITES III in Ghana.