Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Swan Goose
| Swan Goose | ||||||||||||||
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| Anser cygnoides (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Swan Goose, Anser cygnoides, is a large goose breeding in Mongolia and eastern Russia. It is migratory and winters mainly in south and east China.
It has a long neck, long black bill, brown cap and pale underparts apart from some belly streaking; the upperparts are brown and the legs are orange. Sexes are similar, although the male is larger, but juveniles are duller. The voice is a loud honking.
This is a rare goose of the steppes and mountain valleys, which breeds near marshes and other wetlands, laying 5-10 eggs in a ground nest. It is familiar as the Chinese Goose, which has been domesticated for centuries.
It grazes on sedges, and rarely swims. It forms small flocks outside the breeding season.
Its population is declining due to hunting.
References
- Wildfowl by Madge and Burn, ISBN 0-7470-2201-1
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