Anser indicus
The Bar-headed Goose, *Anser indicus*, is a strikingly distinctive medium-sized goose, typically measuring 71-76 cm (28-30 inches) in length with a wingspan of 187-203 cm (74-80 inches) and weighing 1.87-3.2 kg (4.1-7.1 lbs). Its most prominent field marks are the pristine white head, adorned with two bold black bars stretching across the nape and crown, contrasting sharply with its pale grey body. The bill and legs are a vibrant yellow-orange, adding to its elegant appearance. Taxonomically,...
Primarily inhabits high-altitude wetlands, mountain lakes, and rivers on the Tibetan Plateau, often descending to lower elevation steppes and agricultural fields during winter.
Primarily herbivorous, consuming a wide range of grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, roots, tubers, leaves, and grains found in agricultural fields, typically by grazing or dabbling.
Bar-headed Geese are diurnal, spending their days foraging, preening, and resting, often gathering in large, noisy flocks outside the breeding season. They are primarily grazers, walking through short grass and shallow water to pluck vegetation, including roots and tubers, and frequently feed in ...
The breeding range of the Bar-headed Goose spans the high-altitude regions of Central Asia, primarily across the Tibetan Plateau, Mongolia, parts of China (Xinjiang, Qinghai), southern Siberia in Russia, and Kazakhstan. They typically breed at elevations between 4,000 and 5,500 meters (13,000-18,...
Least Concern
- The Bar-headed Goose is renowned for having the highest known migratory flight path of any bird, regularly crossing the Himalayas at altitudes exceeding 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) and sometimes even higher than Mount Everest's summit. - To cope with extreme low-oxygen environments at high altit...