# Orinoco Goose (*neochen jubata*) The Orinoco Goose is a colorful and friendly bird that loves to swim in rivers and lakes. They are often seen waddling around in pairs, making them a delightful sight! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** They live in freshwater wetlands, rivers, and lakes in South America. - **Also known as:** Caribbean Goose, Neochen Goose, Orinoco Duck ![Orinoco Goose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Orinoco_Goose.jpg&width=800) Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orinoco_Goose.jpg) ## Appearance The Orinoco Goose has a strikingly pale, almost white head and neck, contrasting with its rich chestnut-brown chest and belly. Its back and wings are dark, featuring a distinct iridescent green patch visible in flight. It stands out with bright pink legs and feet. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Neochen ## Interesting facts - Baby Orinoco Geese are called goslings and are super fluffy! - Their bright pink legs and feet are super noticeable and help them stand out! - Their loud, trumpet-like calls are a signature sound of South American rivers! - These geese mostly stay in one area, rarely migrating far from home. ## Special abilities - **Arboreal Nester:** Orinoco Geese can nest in tree hollows, offering their eggs and chicks a unique, elevated refuge from ground predators. - **Adaptable Grazer:** Orinoco Geese can easily graze on various grasses and seeds found near water, helping them find food in different environments. - **Swift Escape:** Orinoco Geese can take flight quickly, using powerful wingbeats to escape danger rapidly from open water or riverbanks. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-75 cm - **Wingspan:** 115-130 cm - **Weight:** 1.2-1.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 6-10 - **Incubation:** 28-30 days ## Diet & Feeding These geese munch on green plants and various seeds found near water. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, sedges, aquatic vegetation, seeds, leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — Major predator of adult geese and eggs near South American rivers. - **Eaten by:** [Spectacled Caiman](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spectacled-caiman) (*Caiman crocodilus*) — Caimans opportunistically prey on goslings and eggs in wetlands. - **Eats:** Bahia Grass (*Paspalum notatum*) — These geese frequently graze on this common grass found in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** Green Anaconda (*Eunectes murinus*) — Large anacondas can ambush geese or snatch eggs and goslings. ## Traits - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [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 No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Orinoco 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 Orinoco Goose? 60-75 cm ### What is Orinoco Goose's wingspan? 115-130 cm ### How much does Orinoco Goose weigh? 1.2-1.7 kg ### How long does Orinoco Goose live? 8-15 years ### How fast can Orinoco Goose move? 70 km/h ### What does Orinoco Goose eat? These geese munch on green plants and various seeds found near water. ### Where is Orinoco Goose usually found? They live in freshwater wetlands, rivers, and lakes in South America. ## 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: [Orinoco Goose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orinoco-goose)