Bird Guide

Andean Goose vs Ashy-headed Goose

Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera)

Andean Goose

Chloephaga melanoptera

Huge2.0 kgWetland

The Andean goose is 70 to 76 cm (28 to 30 in) long and weighs 2.73 and 3.64 kg (6.0 and 8.0 lb). Both sexes have the same plumage. Adults' heads and bodies are white. Some scapulars have sooty centers and others are dark brown, giving a striped appearance to the shoulders. The wing's primaries and the tail are black with a greenish gloss. Their bill is coral red with a black nail and the legs and feet are light red. Downy young are mostly white with some blackish spots and streaks. Older immatures are similar to adults but duller. Voice: The Andean goose is very vocal, and males and females have very different voices. Males make "a "soft huit-wit-wit..., crip, quiop, low, grunting kwwwwwu..., single-syllable threat whistle, and double-syllable sexual calls." Females make a louder "somewhat grating kwa-kwak and "a hoarse gack-gack".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA · CC BY 2.0
Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala)

Ashy-headed Goose

Chloephaga poliocephala

Huge2.0 kgGrassland

The ashy-headed goose is 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in) long. Males weigh 1.62 to 2.27 kg (3.6 to 5.0 lb) and females 1.47 to 1.49 kg (3.2 to 3.3 lb). Adults have the same plumage. Their heads and necks are gray, their upper back and breast chestnut with fine barring, their flanks barred black and white, and their belly white. In flight their blackish wings show bold white leading and trailing patches and a metallic green speculum. Their bill is black and the legs and feet orange with black markings. Voice: Male and female ashy-headed geese have different vocalizations: Males make "soft, wigeon-like whistles" and females "harsh cackling notes".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Andean Goose and Ashy-headed Goose.