African Pygmy Goose

African Pygmy Goose

Range: Sub-Saharan African (Cape North to Ethiopia) and Madagascar

Habitat: Ponds, sluggish rivers and bays with an abundance of vegetation

Lifespan: Sexually mature at two years, these birds have lived 10-15 years in captivity

Incubation: Incubation period is 23 days; nests are built in tree cavities, cliff holes and sometimes in the established nests of hammerkop storks

Offspring: 6-12

Size: This species is the smallest and daintiest of waterfowl and has a beak like a goose. Males weigh about 285 grams, females weigh about 260 grams.

Diet: These birds are mostly vegetarians and eat seeds and other parts or water lilies. A small portion of their diet is aquatic insects and their larvae.

Characteristics: This bird can be thought of as a misnamed duck. Unlike most other waterfowl, it can perch on tree branches and nest in high places. The sexes are dimorphic: males are slightly larger than females and have a white face with green ear patches and metallic green on their back; females are rather grayish, with dark eye patches. Both colorations help the bird to blend in with its sluggish water habitat, where lilies are common.

Threats: Thought to be relatively common in the 1970s, this bird is now abundant only in isolated patches. Due to habitat destruction, this species is on the decline and may soon become extinct. There are now just over 60 in 25 institutions worldwide. This species of bird has been bred successfully in both the Bronx Zoo and the Central Park Wildlife Center.