Bar-headed Goose

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

Anser indicus

Identification

68-78 cm (26¾-30¾ in)

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

Distribution

Juvenile between two adults
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Dighal Village, Dist. Jhajjar, Haryana, India, November-2014

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

European populations are generally escaped captive birds.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

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

Behaviour

Breeding

They lay 3-8 eggs in a ground nest.

Diet

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

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

Vocalisation

Recording by Alok Tewari
National Chambal Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh), Morena, M.P. Division, India Jan-2014
Call recorded as a flock flew over-head during boat-safari.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
3. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Bar-headed Goose. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bar-headed_Goose

External Links

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