# Egyptian Goose

*Alopochen aegyptiaca*

Despite their name, they are technically shelducks—a group that shares characteristics of both ducks and geese.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Alopochen
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** increasing
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Open landscapes near water bodies, including lakes, rivers, dams, and increasingly urban parks or golf courses.
- **Diet:** Herbivorous, primarily grazing on grasses, seeds, and leaves, though it occasionally eats small invertebrates.
- **Range:** Sub-Saharan Africa, Nile Valley, United Kingdom, Netherlands, United States
- **Size:** 63-73 cm length; wingspan of 134-154 cm
- **Lifespan:** 15-25 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Pollution of waterways and localized hunting, though the species is highly adaptable and expanding its range.
- **Safe to approach?:** Generally harmless but highly defensive during nesting. Maintain a 5-meter distance. If the bird hisses or flaps its wings aggressively, back away slowly. Avoid feeding them bread as it is nutritionally poor for waterfowl.

## About

The Egyptian goose ( Alopochen aegyptiaca ) is a member of the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. It is native to Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/f1048b95-6dc1-4be6-a380-1db0e3d7d5fc
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/72486
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alopochen aegyptiaca
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/487078347/medium.jpeg (Alex Press, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.