Cotton Pygmy Goose

Breeding males have a white head and neck with fine black speckling, a dark green crown, and a distinct black collar around the lower neck. Their back is glossy dark green, and the underparts are whitish with a dark band across the breast. Females and non-breeding males are duller, lacking the black collar and glossy green back, showing more grayish-brown and white patterns.

Extremely small size, short goose-like bill, white head with dark speckling, and dark green back and wings.

Length: 30-37 cm, Wingspan: 56-66 cm, Weight: 250-450 g

Soft, high-pitched cackling notes, often given in flight or when disturbed.

Primarily feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, and water lilies, supplemented by small insects and crustaceans.

Well-vegetated freshwater lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, and slow-flowing rivers with abundant floating aquatic plants.

Mainly resident, but undertakes local seasonal dispersal in response to rainfall and water availability.

Nests in tree cavities, hollows in old stumps, or occasionally in artificial nest boxes near water. Clutch size typically ranges from 6 to 12 eggs, incubated solely by the female.

Radama and other pygmy geese species within its range, but distinguished easily by its unique black neck collar (in breeding males) and overall pale head with fine speckling.

Acts as a seed disperser and helps control aquatic invertebrate populations in freshwater wetland ecosystems.

Least Concern, with a generally stable global population trend.

Look for them resting on floating vegetation or perched in trees near water bodies in early morning or late afternoon.

Despite being called a goose due to its short, goose-like bill, it is actually a perching duck closely related to dabbling ducks and teals.