# Ashy-headed Goose (*Chloephaga poliocephala*) The Ashy-headed Goose is a beautiful bird with a gray head and a white body. They love to swim in lakes and rivers and can often be seen waddling on the grass. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Ashy-headed Goose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chloephaga_poliocephala_-Patagonia-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chloephaga_poliocephala_-Patagonia-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Ashy-headed Goose has a distinct ashy-grey head and neck, contrasting with a chestnut breast and finely barred black-and-white belly. Its back is grey-brown, and it sports bright orange legs and a small black bill, making it easily identifiable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Chloephaga ## Interesting facts - Ashy-headed Geese often form lifelong pairs, staying together year after year! - Their unique whistling call helps them communicate across wide, open landscapes! - They are endemic to Patagonia, found only in the southern tip of South America! - Unlike many birds, these geese primarily eat grass, just like little cows! ## Special abilities - **Grass Clipper:** Ashy-headed Geese can efficiently graze short grasses because of their strong bills, helping them find food in open fields. - **Striped Camouflage:** Ashy-headed Geese have a barred black and white belly that helps them blend perfectly into their grassy, shadowed habitats. - **Cold Weather Survivor:** Ashy-headed Geese can withstand chilly Patagonian winters thanks to their dense, waterproof feathers that keep them warm and dry. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-55 cm - **Wingspan:** 85-95 cm - **Weight:** 1-1.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-6 - **Incubation:** 30-32 days ## Diet & Feeding These geese are vegetarians, mostly munching on fresh green grasses and other plant parts. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Sedges, Leaves, Seeds - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Culpeo Fox (*Pseudalopex culpaeus*) — Foxes prey on eggs and young goslings when nests are on the ground. - **Eaten by:** Red-backed Hawk (*Geranoaetus polyosoma*) — These powerful hawks can sometimes hunt smaller adult geese or goslings. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — Their primary food source is the fresh green leaves of various grasses. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Dog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-dog) (*Canis familiaris*) — Stray dogs are a significant threat to nests, eggs, and young geese. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ashy-headed Goose? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ashy-headed Goose? 45-55 cm ### What is Ashy-headed Goose's wingspan? 85-95 cm ### How much does Ashy-headed Goose weigh? 1-1.2 kg ### How long does Ashy-headed Goose live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Ashy-headed Goose move? 70 km/h ### What does Ashy-headed Goose eat? These geese are vegetarians, mostly munching on fresh green grasses and other plant parts. ### Where is Ashy-headed Goose usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Ashy-headed Goose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ashy-headed-goose)