Orinoco Goose

Description:

A medium sized goose in the shelduck sub family. Pale white to grey head, neck and upper breast. Belly and flanks are a dark chestnut brown, wings and tail a dark green/black. A white vent and bright rose/red legs and feet. Bill is also black with a red lower mandible. Sexes are alike.

Habitat:

Once widespread, these birds are becoming increasingly rare and are listed as near threatened globally. In Peru they are now considered rare and generally only found in the more remote drainage of the Rio Madre de Dios. I saw this pair beside the river on a sand bar. In the whole trip I only saw 3 pairs which is very sad.

Notes:

As is increasingly the case, these once common birds are under enormous pressure both from hunting and habitat destruction.