Family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Least Concern
Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps)
Taxonomy
French: Ouette à tête rousse German: Rotkopfgans Spanish: Cauquén colorado
Taxonomy:
Chloëphaga rubidiceps
P. L. Sclater
, 1861,Falkland Islands
.Distribution:
Extreme S South America in E Magallanes (Chile), N Tierra del Fuego and S Santa Cruz (Argentina), also Falkland Is; formerly more widespread. Winters N to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Descriptive notes
45–52·5 cm; male 1650–2020 g, female 1200–1500 g. Distinctive goose with red-brown head and neck, fading to grey-brown during inter-moult period,... read more
Voice
Sexually dimophic like other Chloephaga geese: male gives short, whistled “seep” and... read more
Habitat
Open country, frequenting coastal grassland, meadows and pampas wetlands, around ponds, in... read more
Food and feeding
Almost entirely vegetarian; roots, leaves, stems and seed heads of grasses and sedges. In summer, primarily feeds on Poa annua,... read more
Breeding
Starts Sept–Nov in Falkland Is, with peak laying in mid Oct on continent. In single pairs or loose groups; nest lined with down, on... read more
Movements
Falkland Is population virtually sedentary, although has been recorded moving up to 90 km (more... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Population of mainland S America in critical state: has decreased dramatically and may now number fewer than 1000 birds, with the... read more
Monotypic.