
Egyptian goose in Uganda
The Egyptian goose is also known as Alopochen aegyptiaca and it is under a family of the duck, goose, and swan. In Uganda, the Egyptian goose can be spotted along the Nile in Murchison falls national park and around Lake Victoria in Entebbe while on your birding safari. They are largely terrestrial bird species.
The staring pale eye of the Egyptian goose is surrounded by a dark patch, pink legs, and overall gray and buffy plumage. Look out for bright white forewings during flight. Their flight looks heavy and goose-like, with slow wing-beats.
The Egyptian goose in Uganda is normally seen in pairs or family groups and it feeds while swimming as well as grazing on the shores. Egyptian geese typically eat seeds, leaves, grasses, plant stems, and occasionally feed locusts, worms, or other small animals.
The female is also smaller in size than the male, with darker markings on the beak. These geese can live up to 25 years in captivity.
Egyptian geese can stay in a small flock for the majority of the year, but pair up only during breeding. They are keen and normally walk away from danger and often fly unless they are surprised. Birders can watch them fly together either in an irregular V-shape formation or in a long line.
The male Egyptian goose in Uganda attracts the female with a noisy courtship stint that includes neck stretching, honking, and feather displays. A male Egyptian goose might hiss if disturbed, however, the female is more aggressive than the male, more so if it has young ones.
The females build their nests from reeds, leaves, and grass and both parents take turns incubating the eggs. Egyptian geese usually pair for life, and both males and females take care of the offsprings until they are old enough to care for themselves. Such parental care, however, does not include foraging for the young ones.
Just like any other bird, the Egyptian goose in Uganda has predators like; crocodiles, leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and Old World vultures.
Book your Uganda birding trip with Africa Adventure Vacations to spot several bird species.