Kelp Goose
Chloephaga hybrida
A distinctive goose found locally along rocky coasts and in intertidal areas; very rarely away from the shoreline. Usually in pairs or small groups, readily associating with other geese. Pure white male stands out at long range, but handsomely patterned female can be cryptic—note her white tail, pale brown cap. First-year males are variably intermediate in plumage between adult males and females. In flight, females show bold black-and-white wing pattern like other austral geese such as Upland Goose.
Identification
The kelp goose is 55 to 65 cm (22 to 26 in) long. Males of the nominate subspecies weigh 2.54 to 2.58 kg (5.6 to 5.7 lb) and females 2.00 to 2.02 kg (4.4 to 4.5 lb). Subspecies C. h. malvinarum is heavier: Males weigh 3.25 to 3.60 kg (7.2 to 7.9 lb) and females 2.05 to 2.80 kg (4.5 to 6.2 lb). The two subspecies have the same plumage but the sexes are completely different. Adult males are entirely white but for a black bill with a pink spot on the maxilla and yellow legs and feet. Adult females have a pale brown crown and chocolate brown head, neck, and mantle. Their breast and flanks have black and white bars and their back, tail, and undertail coverts are white. Their bill is pink and their legs and feet yellow. Juvenile males resemble adult females but with brown "shoulders" and greenish-yellow legs and feet. Juvenile females have a dark crown and dark uppertail coverts.
Taxonomy
The kelp goose has two subspecies, the nominate C. h. hybrida and C. h. malvinarum.
- Scientific name
- Chloephaga hybrida
- Authority
- (Molina, 1782)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Chloephaga
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of kelp goose is found on coastal southern Chile and Argentina including the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. C. h. malvinarum is found only on the Falkland Islands. Except when nesting, the species inhabits rocky coasts or shingle beaches with kelp beds offshore. It nests at coastal freshwater lakes.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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