# Cape Barren Goose (*Cereopsis novaehollandiae*) The Cape Barren Goose is a unique bird with a funny-looking face and beautiful grey feathers. They are often found waddling around in groups and love to eat grass and seeds. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Cape Barren Goose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cereopsis_novaehollandiae_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cereopsis_novaehollandiae_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Cape Barren Goose is a large, sturdy bird with a grey body, a distinctive black tail, and striking pink legs. Its most unique feature is a bright yellow-green waxy knob, called a cere, on its short black bill, making it easy to identify. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Cereopsis ## Interesting facts - Cape Barren Geese prefer to nest on remote islands, sometimes even among penguin colonies! - Their loud call is a deep, pig-like honk, very different from other geese! - These geese were once critically endangered but have made an amazing comeback! - They are one of only two goose species that live mostly on saltwater environments. ## Special abilities - **Saltwater Sipper:** Cape Barren Geese have special salt glands that help them drink salty ocean water because this removes excess salt from their bodies. - **Tough Grazer:** Cape Barren Geese have a strong bill and powerful jaws that help them pull up and eat tough, fibrous coastal grasses. - **Island Sanctuary Seeker:** Cape Barren Geese can swim and fly to remote offshore islands that help them keep their nests and goslings safe from land predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 75-100 cm - **Wingspan:** 130-160 cm - **Weight:** 3-7 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 34-37 days ## Diet & Feeding This goose mostly eats plants like grasses and herbs found in salty coastal areas. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Clover, Sedges, Herbs, Roots - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Wedge-tailed Eagle (*Aquila audax*) — Eagles hunt goslings and sometimes adult geese. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Introduced foxes prey on goose eggs and young goslings. - **Eats:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Geese graze on clover found in their coastal habitats. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cape Barren 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 Cape Barren Goose? 75-100 cm ### What is Cape Barren Goose's wingspan? 130-160 cm ### How much does Cape Barren Goose weigh? 3-7 kg ### How long does Cape Barren Goose live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Cape Barren Goose move? 70 km/h ### What does Cape Barren Goose eat? This goose mostly eats plants like grasses and herbs found in salty coastal areas. ### Where is Cape Barren Goose usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Dessau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-dessau) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo ## 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: [Cape Barren Goose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cape-barren-goose)