Orinoco Goose

The Orinoco goose (Neochen jubata) is a striking bird, with males typically weighing around 1.8 kg and females slightly lighter at approximately 1.3 kg. They range in length from 61 to 76 cm. The males boast an off-white head, neck, and breast, adorned with buffy streaks on the nape and scalloping on the breast. Their mantle is a subtle gray with white scalloping, and they feature an orange band across the upper mantle. Females share a similar pattern but with a more subdued coloration.

Identification Tips

Adult males can be identified by their bright salmon red legs and feet, a black maxilla, and a predominantly red mandible. The females, while similar in pattern, have a drab wash on their crown and nape, less vibrant orange on the flanks, and more pronounced dark scalloping on the belly. Their legs and feet are a duller orange compared to the males.

Habitat

These geese favor wet savannas and the peripheries of large freshwater wetlands during the wet season. In the dry season, they can be found along river beaches and oxbow lakes within the Amazon Basin.

Distribution

The Orinoco goose graces a vast range from Venezuela through Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and Bolivia, reaching as far as northern Argentina and across central Brazil. An isolated population is found along the northern Brazil–Guyana border.

Behaviour

Orinoco geese exhibit a mix of migratory behaviors. While some remain year-round residents in areas like the Llanos of Venezuela, others undertake significant migrations to breed or forage, with some traveling as far as 1,000 km along the Río Juruá in western Brazil.

Song & Calls

The Orinoco goose is known for its vocal nature, especially during breeding season. Males emit high whistles and guttural honks, while females produce a loud cackle. Both sexes are capable of a distinctive nasal honking, and the young make soft, chicken-like peeps.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by location and rainfall, with some populations nesting during the dry season and others during the wet season. They prefer natural or artificial cavities for nesting and are known to form strong pair bonds. Males are particularly protective during the incubation period.

Diet and Feeding

These herbivorous geese primarily dine on leaves and seed heads of grasses, as well as aquatic algae. They forage mostly during the day in open areas near water, but are also known to feed at night.

Conservation status

The Orinoco goose is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. With an estimated population of 10,000 to 25,000 mature individuals, the species faces threats from hunting and habitat conversion to rice cultivation. Conservation efforts are recommended to focus on river margins, sandy beaches along main river channels, and migration routes to ensure the survival of this species.