Chloephaga poliocephala

(Sclater, 1857)

Vernacular names
English : Ashy-headed goose
French : Ouette à tête grise

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Anseriformes
Family : Anatidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a body length of 60 cm for a weight of 2.2 kg. Unmistakable when adult. Legs orange and black, black bill, white eye contour. Head ashy-grey, breast and back bright rufous, brown wings, flanks white striped black.

Range and habitat
This species is found in South America, from central and south Chile to south-west Argentina and Falkland islands. It migrates north and eastwards for wintering. Lives in damp clearings of southern Beech forests, near lakes and swamps.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is locally common to abundant. Its breeding grounds are safe so far but it is often persecuted on its wintering grounds.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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