Egyptian Goose

The Egyptian Goose is a large, long-legged African waterfowl that, despite its name, is actually more closely related to shelducks than to true geese. It has a buffy-brown to gray-brown body, a distinctive dark brown patch around the eye, a chestnut patch on the lower breast, and pink legs and bill. In flight, it shows bold white wing patches bordered by black and a green speculum.

Originally native to the Nile Valley and much of sub-Saharan Africa, the Egyptian Goose has become an increasingly familiar sight well beyond its native range, having established feral breeding populations in parts of Europe and North America thanks to its adaptability to parks, golf courses, and urban wetlands.

Key field marks

• Large size, long pink legs, and a pinkish bill
• Distinctive dark brown patch surrounding the eye
• Chestnut-brown patch on the center of the lower breast
• Bold white wing patch and green speculum visible in flight

Similar species

The Ruddy Shelduck is more uniformly orange-brown without the dark eye patch and has dark (not pink) legs. No other common waterfowl shares the Egyptian Goose's combination of pink legs, dark eye mask, and breast patch.

Native to the Nile Valley and much of sub-Saharan Africa, the Egyptian Goose inhabits rivers, lakes, wetlands, and adjacent open grasslands, tolerating a wide range of habitats including urban parks. Introduced and feral populations are now established and expanding in parts of Europe (notably the UK, Netherlands, and Belgium) and in Florida and other parts of the United States, where the species thrives around lakes, golf courses, and suburban ponds.

Behavior

Egyptian Geese are territorial and often aggressive, particularly around nesting sites, chasing off other waterfowl and even much larger birds. They graze on land as readily as they forage in water.

Voice

Loud and vocal; males give a hoarse, wheezy hissing call, while females give a loud, harsh honking or cackling call, both frequently heard in disputes.

Feeding

Mostly grasses and other plant material grazed on land, along with seeds, aquatic plants, and occasionally small invertebrates.

Nesting

Nests on the ground, in tree cavities, or even in old nests of other large birds, sometimes well above ground; clutches typically hold 5-11 eggs.