Biology
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The ruddy-headed goose is generally seen in flocks, often mixing with the upland goose (Chloephaga picta) and the ashy-headed goose (Chloephaga poliocephala) (5). Almost entirely vegetarian, the ruddy-headed goose feeds on roots, leaves, stems, and the seed-heads of grasses and sedges (8). These geese rarely swim, preferring instead to forage in natural grasslands, pastures and agricultural lands (5), where it often digs out food with its bill. While the Falkland Islands population is virtually sedentary, the mainland population moves north in winter, from Tierra del Fuego to the grasslands, pastures and croplands of southern Buenos Aires province (6) (9).
The ruddy-headed goose breeds in September and October. Nests lined with down are constructed among vegetation or boulders. Five to eight eggs are laid into this nest and are incubated for around 30 days (8).
Conservation
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Three projects were run by Wetlands International, with support from the Convention on Migratory Species, to conserve and manage the ruddy-headed goose in Chile and Argentina (6). As well as updating information on population numbers and distribution, and initiating an intensive public awareness campaign, the project has created an 'Action Plan' for the conservation of the species and has successfully created a reserve at the mouth of the San Juan River, Chile; an important nesting area of the ruddy-headed goose (9).
Description
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The ruddy-headed goose has boldly patterned plumage, with fine brown and blackish barring on the shoulders and breast, becoming more distinct on the flanks. From the shoulders, the barring merges into the grey-brown plumage of the back, blending into a dark grey tail (2). As its name suggests, the ruddy-headed goose has a reddish-brown head, with an indistinct white ring around the eye. Its relatively short bill is black, and the orange legs bear distinct black marks on the knee joints and on the feet. Male ruddy-headed geese can be distinguished by their larger size, and also by their high, whistling call, which contrasts with the female's lower, short, quacking sound (2).
Habitat
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In the Falklands, the ruddy-headed goose inhabits flooded meadows and open grasslands. On mainland Patagonia, the goose can be found in freshwater marshes (mallines and vegas), moving to the grasslands, pastures and croplands of southern Buenos Aires province in the winter (5) (6) (7).
Range
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The ruddy-headed goose is broadly divided into two populations. The mainland population breeds in southern Patagonia of Chile and Argentina, and winters at the southern end of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The Falkland Islands population remains on the islands all year round. Whilst the Falkland Islands population is not threatened, the mainland population has suffered serious declines (4).
Status
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The ruddy-headed goose is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1) and is listed on Appendices I and II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or Bonn Convention) (3).
Threats
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In the 1960s the ruddy-headed goose was proclaimed a pest by the Argentinean Federal Government, as it was thought to feed heavily on wheat and corn crops in Buenos Aires, as well as competing with sheep and cattle stocks for grassland resources in southern Patagonia. As a result, the ruddy-headed goose was persecuted, and declines of the mainland population were significant (5). The introduction of the Patagonian fox (Pseudalopex griseus) in 1951 contributed to these declines, due to foxes preying on the nests of the goose, and the mainland population was pushed to the brink of extinction. Hunting for sport and possible poisoning by agricultural chemicals continue to place pressure on the remaining geese on the mainland (4).
Ruddy-headed goose
provided by wikipedia EN
The ruddy-headed goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) is a species of waterfowl in tribe Tadornini of subfamily Anserinae. It is found in Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands.[2][3]
Taxonomy and systematics
The ruddy-headed goose is monotypic.[2]
Description
The ruddy-headed goose is 45 to 52.5 cm (18 to 21 in) long. Males weigh 1.65 to 2.02 kg (3.6 to 4.5 lb) and females 1.20 to 1.50 kg (2.6 to 3.3 lb). Adults have the same plumage. Their heads and necks are red-brown, their back, breast, and flanks gray and buff with brown barring, their belly cinnamon, and their tail black. Their wing's upperside is gray and the underside gray, black, and white. Their bill is black and the legs and feet orange with black markings. Juveniles are similar to adults but duller overall.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The ruddy-headed goose is found in the eastern Chilean and Argentinian parts of Tierra del Fuego and north from there to Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is also found on the Falkland Islands. It inhabits open landscapes such as meadows, Pampas wetlands, the borders of ponds, and coastal grasslands.[4]
Behavior
Movement
Ruddy-headed geese are year-round residents of the Falkland Islands, though they make local movements there. The species nests in Tierra del Fuego and far southern mainland Argentina and for the winter migrates north from there as far as Argentina's Buenos Aires Province.[4]
Feeding
The ruddy-headed goose is almost entirely vegetarian and feeds mostly on the ground rather than in water. On the breeding grounds its diet is small berries and the roots, leaves, stems, and seeds of grasses and sedges. During winter it feeds on young wheat and in harvested fields of maize, sunflower, and sorghum.[4]
Breeding
The ruddy-headed goose's breeding season begins as early as September on the Falkland Islands and in mid-October on the mainland. It nests singly or in small loose groups. Nests are placed in long grass or amid boulders and are lined with down. The clutch size is three to eight eggs. Males guard females during the incubation period of about 30 days. The time to fledging is not known.[4]
Vocalization
Male and female ruddy-headed geese have different vocalizations: Males make a "short, whistled 'seep'" and females a "short rasping quack".[4]
Status
The IUCN has assessed the ruddy-headed goose as being of Least Concern, though its population size is unknown and believed to be decreasing. The population in the Falklands appears robust but that in Tierra del Fuego and mainland South America may be only a few hundred birds after major decline in the 20th century.[1][5] A major cause of the crash is predation by the South American gray fox, which was introduced to Tierra del Fuego in the 1950s to control rabbits.[6] A Memorandum of Understanding was negotiated in 2006 with Argentina and Chile under the Bonn Convention in an attempt to safeguard the remaining migratory Tierra del Fuego/mainland population.[7]
References
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^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Ruddy-headed Goose Chloephaga rubidiceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22679984A92837451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679984A92837451.en. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
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^ a b Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (August 2022). "Screamers, ducks, geese, swans". IOC World Bird List. v 12.2. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
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^ HBW and BirdLife International (2021) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 6. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v6_Dec21.zip retrieved August 7, 2022
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^ a b c d e f Carboneras, C. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.ruhgoo1.01 retrieved September 29, 2022
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^ "Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008" (PDF). gov.fk. May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
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^ Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
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^ "Ruddy-headed Goose Memorandum of Understanding". Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. November 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
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Ruddy-headed goose: Brief Summary
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The ruddy-headed goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) is a species of waterfowl in tribe Tadornini of subfamily Anserinae. It is found in Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands.
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
