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Description:
Egyptian Geese are about 2-2 ˝ feet in length, with wingspans
of 4 ˝-5 feet. Males are slightly larger than females. They are
generally reddish orange to brown, with pale cinnamon-colored underparts.
The underside of the wings is white and iridescent green. They have a
dark chestnut-brown mask around the eyes. Their beak, legs, and feet are
pink. Juveniles look similar, but they do not have the dark eye mask.
Range:
Sub-Saharan Africa; small populations in England and the
Netherlands
Habitat:
Wetlands
Diet:
In the wild, they eat grass, leaves, seeds, and grain from
crops. They also eat small amounts of worms and insects. In the zoo, our
geese eat milo, corn, and other grains, and they can forage for themselves
in their exhibit.
Life
Cycle:
During the breeding season, groups separate into pairs, and
each pair establishes a territory. They build their nests inside ground
burrows or hollow trees. Nests are made with leaves, reeds, and grass,
and lined with down. Some pairs may use an old nest of another large
bird. They lay 5-8 yellowish-white eggs per clutch. Incubation lasts
28-30 days. The chicks fledge in 60-75 days, and remain in their parents’
care for almost 4 months. They are mature at 2 years, and can live up to
20 years.
Did You Know?
·
Egyptian Geese can be easily identified by their voice. The
males hiss, and the females make a loud cracking noise.
·
They are the most common geese in many parts of Africa.
Often gathering in flocks of 100 or more birds, they can do considerable
damage to crops.
·
Our association with the Egyptian Goose goes back thousands
of years. They were domesticated by the Romans and Greeks, and the
ancient Egyptians regarded them as sacred.
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