Swan Goose
Anser cygnoides
The Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) is a uncommon ducks, swans, and geese found in 52 countries, weighing about 3.5 kg. The swan goose is a large goose with a natural breeding range in inland Mongolia, Northeast China, and the Russian Far East.
About the Swan Goose
The swan goose is a large goose with a natural breeding range in inland Mongolia, Northeast China, and the Russian Far East. It is migratory and winters mainly in central and eastern China. Vagrant birds are encountered in Japan and Korea, and more rarely in Kazakhstan, Laos, coastal Siberia, Taiwan, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The swan goose is large and long-necked for its genus, wild birds being 81–94 cm (32–37 in) long (the longest Anser goose) and weighing 2.8–3.5 kg (6.2–7.7 lb) or more (the second-heaviest Anser, after the greylag goose A. anser). The sexes are similar, although the male is larger, with a proportionally longer bill and neck; in fact, the largest females are barely as large as the smallest males. Typical measurements of the wing are 45–46 cm (18–18 in) in males, 37.5–44 cm (14.8–17.3 in) in females; the bill is about 8.7–9.8 cm (3.4–3.9 in) long in males and 7.5–8.5 cm (3.0–3.3 in) in females.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, India, Australia, Norway, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Aruba, North Korea, Uzbekistan.
When to see it
The Swan Goose can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Swan Goose?
- The swan goose is large and long-necked for its genus, wild birds being 81–94 cm (32–37 in) long (the longest Anser goose) and weighing 2.8–3.5 kg (6.2–7.7 lb) or more (the second-heaviest Anser, after the greylag goose A. anser). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Swan Goose?
- The Swan Goose is a huge sized bird weighing about 3.5 kg.
- Where can you see a Swan Goose?
- The Swan Goose occurs in 52 countries, including the United States, China, Mongolia, Germany and Taiwan.
- What birds look similar to a Swan Goose?
- The Swan Goose is most easily confused with the Lesser White-fronted Goose, the Emperor Goose and the Bar-headed Goose.
- Is the Swan Goose endangered?
- The Swan Goose is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Swan Goose for real
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