Anatidae
anseriformes
Birds
28-30 days
5-12.
Mainly herbivorous on grass shoots, crop grains and young leaves, they complement their diet with a wide variety of small insects, terrestrial worms and frogs.
Up to 14 years in captivity.
The Egyptian Goose is characterized by having a long neck, long legs and a strong pink beak and brown patches around each eye. The upper part of the wings and head are brown, while the rest of the body has lighter shades. The underside of the wings is white and green.
With a height of 63 to 73 cm and a weight ranging from 1,5 to 2,3 kg, they have a considerable wing span of about 38 cm on average.
Although females are somewhat smaller than males, there is no sexual dimorphism, so they cannot be distinguished sexually by their external appearance. A separate issue is the sound they produce, while the males make harsh whistles, the females make a clucking sound similar to that of other ducks.
Under normal conditions, Egyptian Goose are silent and reserved animals, but during the breeding season the situation changes completely, the males become very aggressive and carry out elaborate courtship rituals in which they produce loud sounds. They are monogamous and usually build their nests among vegetation, in holes or simply on the ground.
Socially they remain in small groups throughout the year until the breeding season begins. Although they are primarily sedentary, they move from one body of water to another if a period of drought occurs in their range.
Egyptian Goose swim, travel and feed in flocks. Living in groups can be a defensive strategy against predators, since the more individuals there are, the more likely they are to raise the alarm in the event of an attack. Their predators include lions, cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles and vultures.
