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2

Cape Barren Goose

(Cereopsis novaehollandiae)
Alternate name(s): "Pig Goose"
Aboriginal name(s): Race "novaehollandiae": "tulka" [yartwatjali], "kaRal" [tjapwurrung, western djadajwurrung]; "lowrie"
Race "grisea": "karnkarn"

Size: 75-90 cm; wing span 1.5-1.9 m
Weight: 3-7 kg
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Cape Barren Goose at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "novaehollandiae"

ADULT

PAIR

Near-frontal/dorsal view of a pair of Cape Barren Geese (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a pair of Cape Barren Geese feeding on grass (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, September 2021]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a resting Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Frontal view of a Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, April 2021]

Near-frontal view of Cape Barren Geese (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, April 2021]

Near-lateral portrait of a Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral view of a Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of C. Lawrence)
[Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, Taranna, TAS, December 2013]

Lateral view of a Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of Cape Barren Geese (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, April 2021]

"Double-headed and four-legged" Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Dorsal view of a Cape Barren Goose (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Dorsal view of a Cape Barren Goose spreading its wings, thereby displaying the upperwing pattern
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Oct Eggs: 3 - 6 Incubation period: 34 - 37 days Fledging age: 70 - 76 days

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket Material: Reeds, grass; feather lining Height above ground: N/A

Lateral view of a Cape Barren Goose on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, September 2021]

Nest building: Male Incubation: Female Dependent care: Male & female

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 79 x 58 mm Colour: Creamy white Shape: Elliptical

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Pair/family clan

Food, Diet

Like all other geese, ducks and swans, Cape Barren Geese are vegetarian. They feed on plants on land, mostly grasses.

Small covey of Cape Barren Geese on pasture (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral portrait of a Cape Barren Goose feeding on pasture (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral portrait of a Cape Barren Goose feeding on pasture (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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