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Alopochen aegyptiacus

(Egyptian Goose)

Overview

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Egyptian Geese were domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians and figured prominently in Egyptian art of that period. They and Sacred Ibises were considered sacred. Romans and Greeks also kept them as domestic poultry.

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Kolgans

Common Names in Dutch:

Nijlgans

Common Names in English:

Egyptian Goose

Common Names in Finnish:

Afrikanhanhi

Common Names in French:

Oie D'Égypte, Ouette D'Égypte, Ouette D'egypte

Common Names in German:

Nilgans

Common Names in Hebrew:

יאורית

Common Names in Italian:

Oca Egiziana

Common Names in Japanese:

エジプトガン

Common Names in Russian:

Нильский гусь

Common Names in Spanish:

Ganso Del Nilo

Description

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Family Anatidae

Birds that are modified for swimming, floating on the water surface, and in some cases diving in at least shallow water. They have webbed feet and flattened bills. Special oils in their feathers helps them shed water. This is one of the few families of birds that possess a penis .

Physical Description

Species Alopochen aegyptiacus

These handsome large geese have patches of chestnut-colored feathers around each eye, which give them a spectacled appearance . Some of them have gray-brown upper parts; others are red-brown. They have black tails and yellow eyes; their bills, legs and feet are pink. Sexes are alike, but the females are somewhat smaller.

Males hiss and females make a cackling noise.

Habitat

Egyptian Geese are usually found inland and close to water.

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -282 meters (0 to -925 feet).[1]

Biome: Saltwater . Bathydemersal .

Biology

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Diet

Their staple diet consists of grass and herbs. But during the dry season , when their natural food becomes less attractive, they often visit cultivated areas and can cause considerable damage to drops. They also eat some worms and insects.

Reproduction

Although very quarrelsome and bad-tempered by nature, they form strong pair bonds and are excellent parents.

Egyptian Geese use a surprising variety of nest sites. Some nest on the ground , some in burrows, others prefer using ledges on cliffs or old buildings. Some select abandoned nests of other birds, often high in the crowns of trees .

Parents call from below to the young that hatch at high elevations until the babies find courage to step off into space.

Females incubate a clutch of 5-8 eggs for about 28 days.

Behavior

Egyptian Geese are very pugnacious and aggressive, especially during breeding season . They are intolerant of other birds including individuals of their own kind and are among the most vicious of all waterfowl.

Essentially terrestrial , they spend considerable time ashore and are at ease on land . They feed both night and day, often long distances from water. They are good swimmers and dive extremely well.

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus, 1766)

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001.

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Alopochen

There are approximately 6 species in this genus:

A. aegyptiaca (Egyptian Goose) · A. aegyptiacus (Egyptian Goose) · A. aegyptica · A. kervazoi · A. mauritianus (Mauritian Shelduck) · A. sirabensis

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 26, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Mean = -27.140 meters (-89.042 feet), Standard Deviation = 363.990 based on 28 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 2009-04-24