Upland Goose

Overview

The upland goose, also known as the Magellan goose, is a sheldgoose within the duck family Anatidae. It is notable for its strong sexual dimorphism and its presence in both the Falkland Islands and southern South America.

Identification

• Males have predominantly white plumage with black legs, while females have reddish-brown plumage with yellow-orange legs.
• A greenish-bronze speculum is present on the inner secondary flight feathers of adult males.
• Males produce a whistling "wheep" sound, whereas females make a low, rattling "a-rrr" sound.
• Body length ranges from 60 to 72.5 cm, with males generally weighing between 2.7 and 4.5 kg depending on the subspecies.

Habitat

This species inhabits temperate grasslands, arid lowland scrubs, and coastal meadows, favouring areas with short green grasses close to water sources such as rivers, ponds, and oceans. Its range covers southern and central Chile and Argentina, extending south to Tierra del Fuego, as well as the Falkland Islands and the sub-Antarctic South Georgia Island.

Diet

Upland geese are herbivorous, feeding primarily on seeds, leaves, stems, and other plant matter. They are highly gregarious and often forage in large flocks in pastures, which has led to them being considered pests by farmers due to grazing on cattle and sheep lands.

Did you know?

Charles Darwin noted in On the Origin of Species that the upland goose possesses webbing between its toes that is rudimentary in function, identifying it as a vestigial anatomical feature.