Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of South Australia Birds of British Columbia Birds of Ontario Birds of Quebec Birds of England Birds of Bedfordshire Birds of Buckinghamshire Birds of Berkshire

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Australian Capital Territory Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Australia Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Quebec Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.9 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 Alopochen
Species aegyptiaca

Where it lives

Southern Mauritania to southern Egypt and Ethiopia south to South Africa

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 1.9 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Egyptian Goose is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

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

The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) belongs to the Anatidae family of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Mauritania to s Egypt and Ethiopia s to South Africa.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.9 kg, with a wing length of about 35.6 cm and a tail of around 12.9 cm.

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

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 17.5 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Egyptian Goose — Call, duet, flight call, beak clattering

Recorded by Walter Wallner Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Egyptian Goose?

The Egyptian Goose is a very large bird that weighs around 1.9 kg.

Where does the Egyptian Goose live?

The Egyptian Goose is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Mauritania to s Egypt and Ethiopia s to South Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Egyptian Goose belong to?

The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Egyptian Goose eat?

The Egyptian Goose is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Egyptian Goose migrate?

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

Is the Egyptian 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 Egyptian Goose make?

1 real field recording of the Egyptian 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 Egyptian Goose's range?

The Egyptian Goose has a mapped global range of about 17.5 million km².