Aves > Anseriformes > Anatidae > Anser
Anser indicus (Latham, 1790) – Bar-headed Goose
Taxonomic Notes:
Old Taxonomy: Anas indicus Latham, 1790
Anser indicus – Bar-headed Goose
Nesting/juveniles:
Breeding Season: Late May-June, in Ladakh on the high plateau lakes at c. 4300 meters elevation.
Nest: Slight depression in the ground thickly padded with vegetation, among marshes, on ground near islands, beside freshwater or saline lakes.
Eggs: 4–6 eggs, ivory white colour, size eggs 84.4 x 55.1 mm.
Breeding Season: Late May-June, in Ladakh on the high plateau lakes at c. 4300 meters elevation.
Nest: Slight depression in the ground thickly padded with vegetation, among marshes, on ground near islands, beside freshwater or saline lakes.
Eggs: 4–6 eggs, ivory white colour, size eggs 84.4 x 55.1 mm.
Indian and global distribution:
records (based on images):
Identification:
Size: 71–76 cm.
Distinguishing characters:
Adult: Slender, pale grey, brown, and white goose; Pale grey with white face, white stripe down each side of brown neck, dark hindneck and lower flanks, two dark bars on hindcrown. Bill and legs yellow, bill-tip black.
Young/Immature: Paler, lacks the dark bars on hindcrown, hindneck and hindcrown are dusky brown, beak and feet are greenish-yellow.
Similar species in India: None. It is a very distinct (morphologically) species and cannot be confused any other species that occurs in India.
Sexual, seasonal & individual variation:
No distinguishable sexual dimorphism exists except for males being slightly larger than females. Also, no discernible individual variation exists. However, with a closer and careful inspection of bars on the head especially relative lengths, angle with neck and relative position with eye may provide a preliminary individual distinction.
Size: 71–76 cm.
Distinguishing characters:
Adult: Slender, pale grey, brown, and white goose; Pale grey with white face, white stripe down each side of brown neck, dark hindneck and lower flanks, two dark bars on hindcrown. Bill and legs yellow, bill-tip black.
Young/Immature: Paler, lacks the dark bars on hindcrown, hindneck and hindcrown are dusky brown, beak and feet are greenish-yellow.
Similar species in India: None. It is a very distinct (morphologically) species and cannot be confused any other species that occurs in India.
No distinguishable sexual dimorphism exists except for males being slightly larger than females. Also, no discernible individual variation exists. However, with a closer and careful inspection of bars on the head especially relative lengths, angle with neck and relative position with eye may provide a preliminary individual distinction.
Status, Habitat and Habits:
It is a gregarious species, forming family parties of 5 or 6 and flock of 100 or more. It is crepuscular and nocturnal, mainly foraging in the night, however, can be seen active during daytime.
Foraging Behaviour: Extensively herbivorous diet that consists of grasses, roots, stems and green parts of plants berries, insects and small crustacea. It is known to cause serious damage to winter crops in many regions (pers. obs.)
Call/Song: Slow honking sounds but more nasal and musical
Migration Status: Migratory, wintering (November to March) at much lower elevations throughout India preferring lowland swamps, lakes and rivers. It is often seen along with Greylag Goose.
IUCN Status: Least Concern
It is a gregarious species, forming family parties of 5 or 6 and flock of 100 or more. It is crepuscular and nocturnal, mainly foraging in the night, however, can be seen active during daytime.
Foraging Behaviour: Extensively herbivorous diet that consists of grasses, roots, stems and green parts of plants berries, insects and small crustacea. It is known to cause serious damage to winter crops in many regions (pers. obs.)
Call/Song: Slow honking sounds but more nasal and musical
Migration Status: Migratory, wintering (November to March) at much lower elevations throughout India preferring lowland swamps, lakes and rivers. It is often seen along with Greylag Goose.
IUCN Status: Least Concern
References:
1. Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Washington, DC.
2. Ali, S., and S. D. Ripley. 1978. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Together with those of Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Ceylon (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press.
3. Stuart Baker, E. C. 1933. The Nidification of Birds of the Indian Empire. Taylor And Francis.
4. BirdLife International. 2018. Anser indicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22679893A131908564
1. Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Washington, DC.
2. Ali, S., and S. D. Ripley. 1978. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan: Together with those of Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Ceylon (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press.
3. Stuart Baker, E. C. 1933. The Nidification of Birds of the Indian Empire. Taylor And Francis.
4. BirdLife International. 2018. Anser indicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22679893A131908564
Aves > Anseriformes > Anatidae > Anser
Cite this page along with its URL as:
Satose, V., and A. Bayani. 2023. Anser indicus (Latham, 1790) – Bar-headed Goose. Satose, V., A. Bayani, V. Ramachandran, P. Roy, and K. Kunte (Chief Editors). Birds of India, v. 2.17. Indian Foundation for Butterflies.
http://www.birdsofindia.org/sp/680/Anser-indicus
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