Egyptian goose

Introduction: The Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegypticaca) is very vocal and noisy and honk and hiss when threatened. They are found in dams, rivers, lakes, pans, marshes, sewage works, estuaries, offshore islands and harbours. Also any water body with open shorelines, close to cereal fields and within aquatic plant growth. Egyptian geese will forage mainly in crop fields and wetland edges and will also enter the sea, at times looking for food on the shoreline. Flood plains and large rivers with broad sandbanks are their historically favoured habitat.

Distribution: Throughout Namibia less for regions of extreme dryness, (southern Namib Desert) or high altitude. Abundant in and around Swakopmund, the Walvis Bay wetlands and lagoon and Luderitz. Common around the Orange River region.

Diet: Egyptian geese follow hippos to feed on disturbed plants. They are primarily a grazer and grass-seed stripper. The eat seeds, grain, grasses, leaves, aquatic plants and young plants.

Description: Large, goose-like duck with long legs and tail with a mainly chestnut and white plumage. They are tolerant of a wide-range of habitats and use a variety of nest sites.

Breeding: Up to 22 eggs are laid in grass, reed and leaf nests. Incubation periods are around 28 to 30 days.

Size: 60 to 75cm.

Weight: 2.35kg.