Wild Birds: The Egyptian Goose

The Egyptian Goose is believed to have been sacred to the Ancient Egyptians. Artwork from that time suggests that the Ancient Egyptians had domesticated the bird. Egyptian geese can be found in most open wetlands in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert as well as into the Nile Valley.

The Egyptian Goose, scientifically called Alopochen aegyptiacus, is part of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. They are the only member of the Alopochen group that is not extinct.

They grow to around 2 to 2 ½ feet high, have a wingspan between four ½ to five feet and weigh only a few pounds. They have a chestnut colored mask that circles their yellow eyes. There back is grayish- brown, reddish-brown or reddish-orange, with iridescent colors such as green and a simple white on the underside of their wings. They have a brown patch on their chest, a pale pink beak, legs and feet and a little black tail.

Male and female Egyptian geese look the same, the males are only slightly larger. Trying to determine the sex just by looking at them can be very difficult. An easier way would be to listen to them. Females will make a load-honking sort of noise, while the males will make a hissing sound.

Both males and females are territorial. During breeding season and when nesting, they become very violent and may attack other birds. They spend a great amount of time on the shore and often perch in trees at night sometimes making a nest.

Their main sources of food are grass, leaves, seeds and the stems of plants. They have also been known to occasionally eat worms and insects.

When they reach the age of two the Egyptian Goose has reached maturity. Breeding occurs during the spring, and then the pairs go off to nest alone. Their nest is made of plants and feathers are used to make them soft. The nest is often made in trees, on the ground, in burrows or holes, on steep cliff ledges or in abandoned nests.

Females lay between five and eight eggs called a clutch. These eggs are incubated for about 28 days before hatching. The young are dull looking and do not have the brown chest spot or markings around the eyes. After seventy days or so, the young are ready to fly.

The lifespan of the Egyptian Goose in the wild is unknown, however one goose at the Woodland Park Zoo lived 14 years. Currently the Egyptian Goose is not listed as an endangered animal species.

sources:
wikipedia
www.honoluluzoo.com
www.birdsofbritain.com
www.hoglezoo.com.