From Opus

Anser cygnoides

Photo by Joe A
Photo taken: Texas.

[edit] Identification

81-94cm. Long neck, long, heavy black bill, brown cap, pale underparts apart from some belly streaking, brown upperparts, orange legs. The sexes are similar, although the male is larger, and juveniles are duller. The voice is a loud honking.

[edit] Distribution

Mongolia, northernmost China, and southeastern Russia.

[edit] Taxonomy

The domestic form of Anser cygnoides is also know as the Chinese Goose. The domesticated form has two morphs, brown and white, and differs from the wild type in having a shortened bill and having developed a knob at the base of the bill, not present in the wild bird, that is particularly pronounced in the female domestic goose.

[edit] Habitat

Steppes, mountain valleys, marshes and other wetlands.

[edit] Behaviour

It rarely swims.

5-8 eggs are laid in a ground nest.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages