| |
|
|
| |
| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
|
| COMMON
NAME: |
Abyssinian
blue-winged goose, blue-winged goose |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Cyanochen
(dark blue goose) cyanopterus (dark blue
feathers) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| DESCRIPTION: |
This
is a tall bird with brown body. Blue-winged geese
are lighter brown around the head and breast regions
and darker brown on wings and back. The upper wing
converts are powder blue. |
|
| SIZE: |
Approximately
60-75 cm (24-30 in.) tall; wingspan 32.5-37.5 cm
(13-15 in.) |
|
| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
1.52 kg (3.3 lbs) |
|
| DIET: |
Feeds
on grasses and other green parts of various plants;
insects and small reptiles |
|
| INCUBATION: |
30-35 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
4-7 eggs |
|
| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
About
2 years |
|
|
|
|
|
| HABITAT: |
Found
in marshes, streams and damp grasslands |
|
| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Estimated
at 5,000-15,000 individuals |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Lower
risk/near threatened |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 1. |
During
courtship, the male struts around the female, his
head bent over his back, and his bill pointed skywards
or behind him. Such posture exposes his blue wing
patch. He communicates with the female with a barely
audible whistle "wnee-whu-whu-whu-whu-whu-whu-whu". |
|
|
| 2. |
Local religious beliefs have protected this bird
from hunting. |
|
|
| 3. |
The Abyssinian portion of their name comes from
Abyssinia, the historical name for Ethiopia. |
|
|
| 4. |
It
is believed that the Abyssinian blue-winged goose's
closest relative is the Andean goose. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
These
birds are nocturnal, which perhaps explains why
so little is known about the species. While little
is known as with any species with a limited range
its populations are vulnerable to human intrusion
and habitat loss.
Large
waterfowl like the Abyssinian blue-winged goose
are essential to the balance of the ecosystem,
by keep bodies of water clear by eating aquatic
plants as well as being a prey item for larger
carnivores.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Scott, P. A Colored Key of the Wildfowl of the
World. Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust.
1988. |
|
|
Todd, F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl.
San Diego, Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996.
|
|
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=
SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=389&m= |
|
|
|
|
|
