Egyptian Goose

Adults have a pale greyish-brown head and neck with a distinctive large dark brown eye patch. The breast has a dark chocolate-brown patch. Upperparts are darker brown, and wings show white coverts with a green speculum in flight. Sexes are similar, though males are slightly larger; juveniles lack the brown eye and breast patches.

Dark chocolate-colored eye patches, pink legs and feet, a pink bill with a dark tip and base, and a dark brown patch on the center of the breast.

Length: 63-73 cm (25-29 in); Wingspan: 134-154 cm (53-61 in); Weight: 1.5-2.25 kg (3.3-5 lbs).

Noisy and vocal. Males produce a hoarse, wheezing hiss; females produce a loud, harsh, repetitive quack or 'honk' especially when alarmed.

Mainly herbivorous, feeding on seeds, leaves, grasses, and plant stems. Occasionally eats insects, worms, or frogs.

Open country near water, including lakes, rivers, marshes, estuaries, and increasingly urban parks and agricultural fields.

Mostly sedentary/resident, though it may move locally in response to water availability or drought in its native African range.

Nests in a variety of places: holes in trees, abandoned large nests of other birds, on the ground, or on ledges. Clutch size is typically 5-11 eggs, incubated for about 28-30 days primarily by the female.

Orinoco Goose (smaller, different face pattern) and various Shelducks. The unique dark eye patch and breast patch are the best identifiers.

Acts as both a grazer and prey species. In introduced areas, they can compete with native waterfowl for nesting sites and food resources.

Least Concern (Population increasing)

Often found in parks near water and on golf courses. They are fairly bold and can be approached relatively closely for photography, but use caution during breeding season as they are aggressive.

Ancient Egyptians considered them sacred and they were frequently depicted in their artwork. Despite their name, they are more closely related to shelducks than to 'true' geese.