Spur-winged Goose

The Spur-winged Goose is a massive African waterbird and the largest waterfowl species on the continent. Despite its name it is more closely related to shelducks than to true geese, and is placed in its own subfamily.

Appearance

• Glossy black plumage with a green-purple sheen on the upperparts
• Variable white patches on the belly, flanks, and wing coverts
• Bare red skin covers the face and forehead
• Males carry a fleshy knob or caruncle at the base of the bill that grows larger with age
• A sharp, spur-like projection is present at the bend of each wing, used in fights

Key field marks

• Very large size with a long neck and heavy body
• Blackish plumage with a metallic green-purple gloss
• Bold white wing patches visible in flight
• Bare red skin on the face, more extensive in males
• Pale legs and a dark bill

Similar species

The Knob-billed (Comb) Duck is smaller and lacks the extensive bare red facial skin and wing spurs, and the male's bill knob sits atop the bill rather than at its base. No other African waterfowl approaches the Spur-winged Goose's size.

Range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Sudan south to South Africa, wherever suitable wetlands occur.

Habitat

Favors freshwater marshes, seasonal floodplains, rivers, dams, and lake margins with adjacent grassland for grazing.

Movement

Largely resident but locally nomadic, shifting between wetlands in response to rainfall and water levels rather than undertaking true long-distance migration.

Behavior

Often seen in pairs or flocks grazing on land near water; wary and quick to take flight when disturbed.

Voice

Generally quiet, giving weak, wheezy whistling notes rather than loud honks typical of true geese.

Feeding

Grazes on grasses and other vegetation on land and dabbles for aquatic plants in shallow water.

Nesting and breeding

Nests on the ground in vegetation near water or occasionally in tree cavities, laying large clutches; males use their wing spurs in territorial disputes during the breeding season.