photo - Cape Barren Goose with all grey feathers tinted with shades of light brown color, beak is lime color with black spot, tip of beak is black.

Goose, Cape Barren

Info

  • Exhibit: Australia
  • Classification: ,
  • Conservation Status: Least concern

CLASSIFICATION
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Anserinae
Genus: Cereopsis 
Species: novaehollandiae

RANGE
Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. There are small populations that have been introduced to New Zealand, Maria Island and some areas of southwestern Australia.

HABITAT
While the prefer to stick to offshore islands, as these are the normal breeding grounds, the Cape Barren goose has learned to adapt to agriculture lands.

SIZE
Weight: 6 – 16 lbs.
Length: 30 – 39 inches

LIFE EXPECTANCY
Approximately 17 years

REPRODUCTION

  • Breeding season is from July to September
  • Pairs are monogamous with males building nests in open grassland areas directly on the ground.
  • Females will incubate the 4-6 eggs that they lay for around 34-38 days.

DIET
Wild: The preference of the Cape Barren Goose is a tussock grass, Poa poiformis, that is native to their range. They will also eat various other plants, grasses, leaves, stems, legumes and grains.

BEHAVIOR

This species is diurnal and will spend most days grazing for food in their small flock. These flocks break off during the breeding season as this species is territorial. Unlike some other species of geese, the cape barren goose is not known to swim often, but has adapted to drinking salt water that is notorious to their native habitat.

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Once thought to be endangered, the goose has made many adaptations that have allowed the species to rebound, including living on agricultural lands.
  • Although population is currently stable, they are considered one of the world’s rarest geese.
  • They are seed dispersers in their natural habitat

STATUS
Least Concern