Bird Guide

Ashy-headed Goose vs Upland Goose

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
Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta)

Upland Goose

Chloephaga picta

Huge2.9 kgGrassland

Upland geese males are similar to other sheldgeese, notably the kelp goose (Chloephaga hybrida) due to their predominantly white plumage, while females resemble the ruddy-headed goose (C. rubidiceps) due to their similarly barred breast plumage. This species is 60–72.5 centimetres (23.6–28.5 in) long. Greater Magellan geese (leucoptera subspecies) are the largest birds of the genus Chloephaga. Males typically weigh 3.5–4.5 kg (7.7–9.9 lbs) and females range from 2.9 to 3.5 kg (6.4–7.7 lbs). Lesser Magellan geese (picta subspecies) males weigh 2.7–3.6 kg (6.0–7.9 lbs) on average and females 2.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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