Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Near Threatened

Waterbirds

Blue-winged Goose

Cyanochen cyanoptera

Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Spain Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the Netherlands Birds of the United States Birds of England Birds of Lancashire Birds of Shropshire Birds of Somerset Birds of Florida

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Spain Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of the Netherlands Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United States Ducks, Geese & Swans of England Ducks, Geese & Swans of Florida

See what's near you right now

The Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Cyanochen
Species cyanoptera

Where it lives

Montane Ethiopia

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 1.5 kg
Diet: Plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Blue-winged 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 Blue-winged Goose is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF montane Ethiopia.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 32.6 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 361,000 km².

Songs & calls

Blue-winged Goose — Call

Recorded by Rolf A. de By Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Blue-winged Goose?

The Blue-winged Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.

Where does the Blue-winged Goose live?

The Blue-winged Goose is found across Africa with a range covering AF montane Ethiopia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Blue-winged Goose belong to?

The Blue-winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Blue-winged Goose eat?

The Blue-winged Goose feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.

Does the Blue-winged Goose migrate?

The Blue-winged Goose is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Blue-winged Goose endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

What sound does the Blue-winged Goose make?

1 real field recording of the Blue-winged 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 Blue-winged Goose's range?

The Blue-winged Goose has a mapped global range of about 361,000 km².