Chloephaga rubidiceps

(Sclater, 1861)

Vernacular names
English : Ruddy-headed goose
French : Ouette à tête rousse

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

Identification
Adults can reach a body length of 52 cm for a weight of 2 kg. Black bill, dirty orange legs. Bright chestnut head with white eye marking. Wings grey-chesnut, rest of plumage striped light grey and black with slight chestnut tinge.

Range and habitat
This species is found in South America, in south Argentina, extreme south Chile and Falkland Islands. It migrates north to Buenos Aires in winter. Lives in coastal grasslands, meadows and pampas wetlands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has been declining dramatically on mainland South America and remains common but often hunted in big numbers on Falklands Islands.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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