Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cape Barren Goose
Cereopsis novaehollandiae
Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 3.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Cereopsis
- Species novaehollandiae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.6 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cape Barren Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Cape Barren Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU islands off s Australia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.6 kg, with a wing length of about 47.1 cm and a tail of around 15.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 558,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cape Barren Goose?
The Cape Barren Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 3.6 kg.
Where does the Cape Barren Goose live?
The Cape Barren Goose is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU islands off s Australia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Cape Barren Goose belong to?
The Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Cape Barren Goose eat?
The Cape Barren Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Cape Barren Goose migrate?
The Cape Barren Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Cape Barren Goose endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Cape Barren Goose make?
4 real field recordings of the Cape Barren Goose — including its call and alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Cape Barren Goose's range?
The Cape Barren Goose has a mapped global range of about 558,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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