Photo: Ealdgyth / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Kelp Goose
Chloephaga hybrida
Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) is a member of the Anatidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.3 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 Chloephaga
- Species hybrida
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.3 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Kelp Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Kelp Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA s Chile, s Argentina and Falkland Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.3 kg, with a wing length of about 35.8 cm and a tail of around 13.2 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 156,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Kelp Goose?
The Kelp Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 2.3 kg.
Where does the Kelp Goose live?
The Kelp Goose is found across South America with a range covering SA s Chile, s Argentina and Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Kelp Goose belong to?
The Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Kelp Goose eat?
The Kelp Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Kelp Goose migrate?
The Kelp Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Kelp 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 Kelp Goose make?
1 real field recording of the Kelp Goose — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Kelp Goose's range?
The Kelp Goose has a mapped global range of about 156,000 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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