Photo: Summerdrought / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Green Pygmy Goose
Nettapus pulchellus
Green Pygmy Goose (Nettapus pulchellus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Green Pygmy Goose (Nettapus pulchellus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 307 g. 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 Nettapus
- Species pulchellus
Where it lives
Eastern Lesser Sundas, southern Moluccas, southern New Guinea and northeastern WA to southeastern QLD (northern, eastern Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 307 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Green Pygmy Goose feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Green Pygmy Goose is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Green Pygmy Goose (Nettapus pulchellus) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU e Lesser Sundas, s Moluccas, s New Guinea and ne WA to se QLD (n, e Australia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 307 g, with a wing length of about 16.9 cm and a tail of around 6.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Green Pygmy Goose?
The Green Pygmy Goose is a large bird that weighs around 307 g.
Where does the Green Pygmy Goose live?
The Green Pygmy Goose is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU e Lesser Sundas, s Moluccas, s New Guinea and ne WA to se QLD (n, e Australia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Green Pygmy Goose belong to?
The Green Pygmy Goose (Nettapus pulchellus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Green Pygmy Goose eat?
The Green Pygmy Goose feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Green Pygmy Goose migrate?
The Green Pygmy Goose is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Green Pygmy 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 Green Pygmy Goose make?
1 real field recording of the Green Pygmy 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 Green Pygmy Goose's range?
The Green Pygmy Goose has a mapped global range of about 1.7 million 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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