From Opus

Photo by Yeshey Dorji
Babesa, Thimphu, Bhutan, June, 2005

Anser indicus

[edit] Identification

68-78 cm

• Pale grey
• Two black bars on white head
• Dark grey hind neck
• Bill and legs orangey-yellow

[edit] Distribution

Alpine lakes in central Asia; winters to India and Burma.
Migration takes them high over the Himalayas.

European populations are generally escaped captive birds.

Photo by alibenn
Lashi Lake, Yunnan, China, December 2005

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic^[1]

[edit] Habitat

They breed near high altitude lakes. Wintering on salt and fresh water marshes, grazing in grassland and wetlands.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It lays 3-8 eggs in a ground nest.

[edit] Diet

In summer the diet includes grass; in winter it feeds on barley, rice and wheat.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links