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| − | ;Anseranas semipalmata | + | ;[[:Category:Anseranas|Anseranas]] semipalmata |
| − | [[Image:Magpie_Goose.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by RMD | + | [[Image:Magpie_Goose.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by RMD.<br/>Photo taken: Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, [[Australia]].]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Black and white plumage and yellow legs. Males are larger than females. Unlike true geese, the moult is gradual, and there is no flightless period. | Black and white plumage and yellow legs. Males are larger than females. Unlike true geese, the moult is gradual, and there is no flightless period. | ||
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Northern [[Australia]] and southern [[New Guinea]]. | Northern [[Australia]] and southern [[New Guinea]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | This species is distinctive enough to be the sole | + | This species is distinctive enough to be the sole member of its genus ''Anseranas'' and family Anseranatidae. |
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
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{{GSearch|Anseranas+semipalmata}} | {{GSearch|Anseranas+semipalmata}} | ||
*[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=8&bid=35 View more images of this species on the ABID] | *[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=8&bid=35 View more images of this species on the ABID] | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Anseranas]] |
Revision as of 19:58, 7 January 2008
- Anseranas semipalmata
Identification
Black and white plumage and yellow legs. Males are larger than females. Unlike true geese, the moult is gradual, and there is no flightless period.
Distribution
Northern Australia and southern New Guinea.
Taxonomy
This species is distinctive enough to be the sole member of its genus Anseranas and family Anseranatidae.
Habitat
Floodplains and swamps.
Behaviour
It is fairly sedentary apart from some movement during the dry season.
Its nest is on the ground, and a typical clutch is 5-14 eggs. Some males mate with two females.
They are colonial breeders and are gregarious outside of the breeding season when they can form large and noisy flocks of up to a few thousand individuals. The voice is a loud honking.
Diet includes vegetable matter.
