Animal Fact Sheet
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Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacus
What does it look
like?
Egyptian geese are a little larger than a duck in size, reaching
2-2 1/2 feet high with a 4 1/2 – 5 foot wingspan. They have
a distinguishing chestnut brown mask around their yellow eyes however,
this coloration is absent in juveniles. The backs of Egyptian geese
are reddish orange to brown in color with the underside of their
wings white and iridescent green. The beak, legs and feet are pale
pink in color. Both sexes are very similar in appearance, with the
males being only slightly larger.
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| Where
in the world?
Egyptian geese are found in most wetlands, with the exception of
those that are densely wooded. Their range extends from the southern
border of the Saharan desert to the southern tip of Africa and also
into the Nile river basin.
What are some behaviors?
Although the sexes of the Egyptian geese are mostly indistinguishable
from each other by sight, the males are the only sex that hisses
while the females vocalize with a loud honk. These waterfowl are
mainly terrestrial, getting most of their food on land. Yet, they
are still strong divers and will sometimes do so for food purposes.
These animals are also the most aggressive waterfowl in Africa,
not allowing any other waterfowl near them or the nesting site during
the breeding season.
What about offspring?
Mating pairs of Egyptian geese nest in a wide array of places. Various
nesting sites have been observed on the ground, in burrows, on cliffs
and ledges and in old buildings. They will also move into the abandoned
nest sites of other birds. The females will lay a clutch of 5 to
8 eggs that take approximately 28 days to hatch.
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What does it eat?
An Egyptian goose diet consists primarily of grasses, seeds, leaves
and plant stems, but they will occasionally eat worms or other insects.
Is it threatened
or endangered?
No. |
