Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)

Least Concern

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

Taxonomy

French: Ouette d’Égypte German: Nilgans Spanish: Ganso del Nilo

Taxonomy:

Anas aegyptiaca

Linnaeus

, 1766,

Egypt

Hybridizes in the wild with Tadorna ferruginea in areas where both species introduced#R, and with many other (generally introduced) goose and duck species#R #R. Monotypic.

Distribution:

Africa S of Sahara, Nile Valley.

Introduced and spreading in several European countries, especially Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany#R.

Descriptive notes

63–73 cm; 1500–2348 g; wingspan 134–154 cm. Facial pattern and variable dark patch on breast distinctive. Fair amount of white on upperwing with iridescent... read more

Voice

Vocalizations are sexually dimorphic, although both sexes hiss when threatened and utter honking... read more

Habitat

Favours a diversity of wetlands (dams, rivers, ephemeral pans, lakes, estuaries, offshore islands,... read more

Food and feeding

Mostly grass and seeds, leaves and stems of (principally aquatic) plants, vegetables, grain, shoots and potatoes; also some animal items,... read more

Breeding

Season variable, but mostly during local spring or at end of dry season: in Kenya, all months; N Africa, Mar–Apr; Sudan, Jun and Sept... read more

Movements

Largely sedentary over much of range, with only some local movements perhaps linked with... read more

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Most widely distributed member of family in Africa. Common to locally abundant, with greatest numbers in S & E Africa, where 200,... read more

Bibliography

Public comments

Recommended citation

Carboneras, C. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52834 on 26 March 2019).