Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera)
Taxonomy
French: Ouette des Andes German: Andengans Spanish: Cauquén guayata
Taxonomy:
Anser melanopterus
Eyton
, 1838,Lake Titicaca, Peru–Bolivia
.Distribution:
Andes from C Peru (Ancash and Junín) to NW Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucumán) and C Chile (S to Ñuble).
Descriptive notes
70–80 cm; 2730–3640 g. Female smaller. Unmistakable. All Chloephaga have white wing-coverts and secondaries obvious, in flight. Greater coverts show... read more
Voice
Vocalizations are sexually dimorphic: in alarm, male gives shrill whistles and female a low,... read more
Habitat
Variety of wetlands on high ground (above 3300 m), surrounded by grassland and rough pastures;... read more
Food and feeding
Mainly vegetarian, especially grasses, sedges and fleshy aquatic plants (Chara, Lilaeopsis, Myriophyllum, ... read more
Breeding
Starts Nov, thus brood-rearing during Dec–Jan, but egg-laying can continue until at least Jan and young have been observed in NW... read more
Movements
Mostly sedentary, with only small-scale movements recorded and these are generally linked to... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Overall population most recently estimated at 25,000–100,000 individuals. Generally widespread and common throughout most of... read more
Monotypic.