Ruddy-headed Goose

Ruddy-headed Goose
Ruddy-headed Goose
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Tadorninae
Genus: Chloephaga
Species: C. rubidiceps
Binomial name
Chloephaga rubidiceps
Sclater,PL, 1861

The Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) is a large sheldgoose, which breeds in southernmost South America.

It breeds on open grassy plains in Tierra del Fuego, Chile and the Falkland Islands. The South American birds are now very rare. They winter on lowlands in southern Argentina, some distance north of the breeding range. The Falklands population is resident.

The lined nest is built amongst grass tussocks, and 4-11 eggs are laid. This terrestrial species favours damp upland forest clearings and feeds by grazing; it rarely swims. It forms flocks outside the breeding season, often mixed with Ashy-headed Goose.

Ruddy-headed Goose is a stocky 45–50 cm bird with a pale grey back, and black-barred rich buff underparts. The head and upper neck are chestnut brown. Sexes are similar, but immature birds are duller.

In flight this species shows black primaries, with the rest of the wing white except for a broad green bar. The male's call is a soft whistle, and the female's is a harsh cackle.

This species remains numerous in the Falklands[1], despite competition from grazing cattle and sheep, but the South American population in Tierra del Fuego has been reduced to a few hundred birds not only by livestock farming, but especially predation by the South American gray fox, which was introduced to Tierra del Fugeo in the 1950s to control rabbits.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008". gov.fk. May 2008. http://www.epd.gov.fk/wp-content/uploads/Falkland%20Islands%20State%20of%20the%20Environment%20Report%202008_final_sm.pdf. Retrieved 29 August 2011. 
  2. ^ Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • BirdLife International (2004). Chloephaga rubidiceps. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is of least concern
  • Wildfowl by Madge and Burn, ISBN 0-7470-2201-1

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ruddy-headed goose — rusvagalvė žąsis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Chloephaga rubidiceps angl. ruddy headed goose vok. Rotkopfgans, f rus. красноголовый гусь, m pranc. ouette à tête rousse, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – magelaninės žąsys …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Magellan Goose — Taxobox name = Magellan Goose status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 image width = 200px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Anseriformes familia = Anatidae genus = Chloephaga species = C. picta binomial = Chloephaga picta… …   Wikipedia

  • Upland Goose — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3 …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Argentina — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Argentina. The avifauna of Argentina includes a total of 1026 species, of which 20 are endemic, 7 have been introduced by humans, and 70 are rare or accidental. 45 species are globally… …   Wikipedia

  • Sibley-Monroe checklist 2 — The Sibley Monroe checklist was a landmark document in the study of birds. It drew on extensive DNA DNA hybridisation studies to reassess the relationships between modern birds.AnseriformesAnhimidae* Anhima cornuta Horned Screamer * Chauna… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Chile — The Andean Condor is the national bird of Chile. This is a list of the bird species recorded in Chile. The avifauna of Chile includes a total of 479 species (324 non passerines and 155 passerines), of which 12 are endemic (with 8 species… …   Wikipedia

  • Anatide — Anatidae Demande de traduction Утиные → …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Anatidé — Anatidae Demande de traduction Утиные → …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Anatidé - Anatidés — Anatidae Demande de traduction Утиные → …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Anatidés — Anatidae Demande de traduction Утиные → …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”