This 63-73 cm long species breeds widely in Great Britain has a self-sustaining feral population, dating back to the 18th century, though only formally added to the British list in 1971. In Britain, it is found mainly in East Anglia, in parkland with lakes.
This is a largely terrestrial species, which will also perch readily on trees and buildings. It swims well, and in flight looks heavy, more like a goose than a duck, whence the English name.
This is a territorial species in the breeding season, and will nest in a large variety of situations.
The sexes of this striking species are identical in plumage, though the males average slightly larger. There is a fair amount of variation in plumage tone, with some birds greyer and others browner, but this is not sex or age related.
Alopochen aegyptiacus are not hunted by many people because they live in such remote locations, but some farmers may shoot at them to scare them away from their agricultural fields.
Lensink, R. Temporal and spatial expansion of the Egyptian gooseAlopochen aegyptiacus in The Netherlands.
Population dynamics and the physical and financial impacts to cereal crops of the Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacus on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape, South Africa.
Gambensis) and the Egyptian, or Nile, goose (Alopochen [AE]gyptiaca).
Note: The Egyptian or fox goose (Alopochen [AE]gyptiaca) and the African spur-winged geese (Plectropterus) belong to the family Plectropterid[ae].
The Australian semipalmated goose (Anseranas semipalmata) and Cape Barren goose (Cereopsis Nov[ae]-Hollandi[ae]) are very different from northern geese, and each is made the type of a distinct family.
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