Photo: Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Andean Goose

Chloephaga melanoptera

Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.

The Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Chloephaga
Species melanoptera

Where it lives

Peru to southern Chile and Argentina

South America

Quick facts

Weight: 2 kg
Diet: Plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Andean Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Andean Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Peru to s Chile and Argentina.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 43.2 cm and a tail of around 13.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².

Songs & calls

Andean Goose — Alarm call

Recorded by Hans Matheve Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Andean Goose?

The Andean Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.

Where does the Andean Goose live?

The Andean Goose is found across South America with a range covering SA Peru to s Chile and Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Andean Goose belong to?

The Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Andean Goose eat?

The Andean Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Does the Andean Goose migrate?

The Andean Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Andean 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 Andean Goose make?

1 real field recording of the Andean Goose — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Andean Goose's range?

The Andean Goose has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².