Kelp goose
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Chloephaga hybrida

The kelp goose (Spanish: Caranca or Cauquén Marino), Chloephaga hybrida, is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae. It can be found in the Southern part of South America - mainly in Patagonian Chile, Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands.

Appearance

Males are a white color, with a black beak, and yellow feet. The females are dark brown, with transverse gray lines on the chest, and yellow feet.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

Kelp geese inhabit Chile's southern half to the eastern tip of Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. They inhabit rocky coasts around their food sources.

Kelp goose habitat map
Kelp goose habitat map
Kelp goose
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Habits and Lifestyle

Kelp geese generally have clutches of 2–7 eggs. They prefer to hide their eggs in long grass. The eggs hatch about a month later.

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There are about 15,000 breeding pairs in existence.

Kelp geese are noted for only eating kelp and will migrate along the coast of South America in order to find kelp, hence the name 'kelp geese'.

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Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Population

References

1. Kelp goose Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelp_goose
2. Kelp goose on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679978/92837056
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/172347

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