Wildlifeof Nepal
Bar-headed Goose
Ducks, Geese & Grebes
Photo: (c) Andrew Bazdyrev, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Anser indicus
Basic stats
Habitat
Breeds colonially near mountain lakes in Central Asia; winters on South Asian wetlands
Range
Breeds in Tibet, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia; winters from Assam to Tamil Nadu
Clutch size
3–8 eggs
Size
71–76cm
Weight
1.87–3.2kg
The bar-headed goose is a pale grey, mid-sized goose, 71 to 76cm long and 1.87 to 3.2kg, easily told from other grey geese by the black bars on its otherwise white head. It breeds in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes in Central Asia and winters in South Asia as far south as peninsular India. It is known for the extreme altitudes it reaches when migrating across the Himalayas (Wikipedia, general species account).
It has been heard flying across Mount Makalu at 8,481m, though a report of birds over Everest is unverified. A 2011 study found tagged geese peaking at around 6,400m, with one reaching 7,290m, and most high flights were at night. It migrates south from Tibet, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia over the Himalayas and lays three to eight eggs in a ground nest.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Bar-headed Goose live in?
- Breeds colonially near mountain lakes in Central Asia; winters on South Asian wetlands
- Where is the Bar-headed Goose found?
- Breeds in Tibet, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia; winters from Assam to Tamil Nadu
- How many eggs does the Bar-headed Goose lay?
- 3–8 eggs
- How big is the Bar-headed Goose?
- 71–76cm
- How much does the Bar-headed Goose weigh?
- 1.87–3.2kg