Swan goose

Anser cygnoides

Zwaangans / Schwanengans / Oie cygnoïde

The swan goose is native to China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia and Russia and vagrant to Taiwan, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It breeds in wetlands in the steppe and forest-steppe zones, including river deltas, river valleys with meadows, the margins of brackish and freshwater lakes, and in mountainous areas along narrow, fast-flowing rivers. In winter, it occurs in lowland lakeside marshes, rice-fields, estuaries and tidal flats. 

This species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN because it is suspected to be undergoing a rapid population decline owing to poor breeding success in recent years as a result of drought and considerable pressure from habitat loss, particularly owing to agricultural development, as well as unsustainable levels of hunting (IUCN). The global population has been estimated at c.60,000-90,000 individuals (Liu Binsheng et al.2002, Zhao Jisheng 2002, Lei Jinyu per T. Fox and Cao Lei in litt. 2012). 

More information: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/100600373/0 

Swan geese are rather rare in avicultural collections and zoological institutions. 

Ringsize: 20mm

Above: Swan geese

Above: Swan geese in Vogelpark Avifauna, birdpark

Above: Swan geese and Red-breasted geese in Vogelpark Avifauna, birdpark

Above: Swan goose at Vogelpark Avifauna. Photo by Jente Ottenburghs