ExploreBirds

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicus

The Bar-headed Goose is a beautiful bird known for flying high in the sky, even over tall mountains! They have a unique gray and white body and are great at swimming in water.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Bar-headed Goose has a distinct white head marked with two bold black bars at the back. Its body is pale grey with darker flight feathers, complemented by bright yellow-orange legs. This unique head pattern makes it visually different from other geese.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAnseriformesFamilyAnatidaeGenusAnser
Bar-headed Goose
feathered trait badgewebbed_feet trait badgesocial trait badgeaerial trait badge
Bar-headed Goose

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A single Bar-headed Goose can survive strong winds up to 100 mph while flying!

Ancient cave paintings show these geese, proving they've been around for ages!

Baby geese, called goslings, can swim just hours after hatching from their nests!

Unlike many birds, their feet are dark, but their legs are bright orange and yellow!

Special abilities

Ability

Sky-High Flyer

Bar-headed Goose can fly incredibly high, even over Mount Everest, because their unique lungs extract oxygen efficiently.

Ability

Cold-Air Breather

Bar-headed Goose has special hemoglobin that helps them carry oxygen even in the thin, cold air of high mountains.

Ability

Endurance Migrator

Bar-headed Goose can fly for thousands of kilometers, enduring long journeys that helps them reach their wintering grounds.

Ability

Energy-Saving Formation

Bar-headed Goose can fly in a 'V' formation that helps them save energy during their amazing high-altitude journeys.

Measurements & details

Length
68-78 cm
Wingspan
140-160 cm
Weight
1.8-3.2 kg
Lifespan
10-20 years
Top Speed
75 km/h
Clutch Size
3-8
Incubation
28-36 days
Migration Distance
5000 km

Diet & Feeding

They mostly munch on different plants, grasses, seeds, and sometimes small insects found near water.

Primary Foods

  • grasses
  • sedges
  • aquatic plants
  • grains
  • roots
  • small invertebrates

Foraging Method

  • Grazing

Ecological connections

eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

preys on eggs and goslings

eaten by

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

hunts adults and juveniles

eats

Wheat

Triticum aestivum

consumes grain from harvested fields

eats

Softstem Bulrush

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

feeds on aquatic plant stems and roots

symbiotic with

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

often shares feeding grounds and water bodies

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Bar-headed Goose?

68-78 cm

What is Bar-headed Goose's wingspan?

140-160 cm

How much does Bar-headed Goose weigh?

1.8-3.2 kg

How long does Bar-headed Goose live?

10-20 years

How fast can Bar-headed Goose move?

75 km/h

What does Bar-headed Goose eat?

They mostly munch on different plants, grasses, seeds, and sometimes small insects found near water.

Where is Bar-headed Goose usually found?

Wetlands

How does Bar-headed Goose hunt?

Grazing

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Where to spot

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