Photo: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ashy-headed Goose
Chloephaga poliocephala
Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala) 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 (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 poliocephala
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ashy-headed Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Ashy-headed Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Chile and s Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 34.5 cm and a tail of around 11.9 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 390,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ashy-headed Goose?
The Ashy-headed Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.
Where does the Ashy-headed Goose live?
The Ashy-headed Goose is found across South America with a range covering SA s Chile and s Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Ashy-headed Goose belong to?
The Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Ashy-headed Goose eat?
The Ashy-headed Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Ashy-headed Goose migrate?
The Ashy-headed Goose is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Ashy-headed 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 Ashy-headed Goose make?
1 real field recording of the Ashy-headed Goose — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ashy-headed Goose's range?
The Ashy-headed Goose has a mapped global range of about 390,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Anatidae
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Waterbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern