Subfamily Tadorninae Scientific name Chloephaga hybrida Higher classification Sheldgoose | Genus Chloephaga Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Sheldgoose, Bird, Upland goose, Ashy‑headed goose, Ruddy‑headed goose | ||
Kelp goose with chicks carcass island
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.
Contents
Habitat
Kelp geese inhabit Chile's southern half to the eastern tip of Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. They habitat rocky coasts around their food sources.
Description
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.
Behavior
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.
There are about 15,000 breeding pairs in existence.
Ecology
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'.
Trivia
In the Falkland Islands and Argentina there are kelp geese stamps.
