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Upland Goose
Scientific Name
Chloephaga picta
Family
Anatidae
Distribution
In Chile, Colchagua to Cape Horn.
Habitat : green valley bottoms, around lakes and rivers. Feeds on grass..
Details
L 60-65 cm. Known also as the "Magellan Goos" or "Avutarda". Male: head and neck white. Slate grey back, tail black. Chest and underparts white or barred black and white in some cases, and in others with thick bars transversing each feather. Black legs.
Female: Head and neck reddish-brown or grey; back pale reddish-brown with black bars, rump black. Chest reddish-brown and belly barred white and black. Yellow legs. Feeds on grasses.
In both sexes the beak is short and black; the tail is black and the wings grey with green speculum, primary blacks and secondary whites.
They feed on grass, some flowers and fruits. Their natureal predators are pumas, foxes, and eagles. The construct their nests in the earth where the females put 5 to 10 eggs.
Due to the great population of these geese that exist in Magdellan, it is permitted to hunt them.
Bibliography
Guia de Campo de Aves de Chile
Braulio Araya y Guillermo Millie
Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica
Martin de la Peña and Maurice Rumboll
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