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Magpie GooseAlternate name(s): "Pied Goose", "Black-and-white Goose", "Semi-palmated Goose", "Wild Goose" ![]() Size: 75-100 cm (male), 70-80 cm (female); wing span 1.5-1.6 m Weight: 1.4-3.2 kg |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal portrait of a male(?) Magpie Goose
[Kakadu NP,
NT, October 1997]
Magpie Geese at Narrabri Lake; probably a male bird at the centre and
two females left and right
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2008]
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FEMALE |
Close-up frontal view of a female(?) Magpie Goose on water
(photo courtesy of J. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2014]
Frontal view of a female Magpie Goose on water (photo courtesy of A.
Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2014]
This frontal view of a female Magpie Goose clearly shows the
half-webbed ("semi-palmated") feet (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]
Near-lateral view of a female Magpie Goose
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2013]
Lateral view of a female Magpie Goose
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Lateral view of a female Magpie Goose stretching its wings
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]
Lateral view of a female(?) Magpie Goose paddling away
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
Near-dorsal view of a female Magpie Goose
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2021]
Dorsal view of a female(?) Magpie Goose
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]
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PAIR |
In the case of the Magpie Goose, the definition of "pair" must not be taken literal to mean two birds, because males can have two females.
Magpie Geese at Narrabri Lake; probably a male bird at the centre and
two females left and right
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2008]
Sex unknown |
Magpie Geese on the edge of a
billabong
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Kakadu NP, NT,
November 2014]
Magpie Geese on the edge of an
ephemeral wetland
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1983]
Magpie Geese together with
Radjah Shelducks
and Grey Teals
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Karumba, QLD, September 2019]
Lateral view of a Magpie Goose in gliding flight
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]
Lateral/ventral view of a Magpie Goose in flight, with a clear view
of its underwing pattern
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2015]
Near-dorsal view of a Magpie Goose just after take-off
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2013]
Lateral view of a landing flock of Magpie Geese
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, February 2013]
In this dorsal view of a landing Magpie Goose one can see clearly
the "semi-palmated" (half-webbed) feet
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2013]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a juvenile Magpie Goose; note the absence
of a knob (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, August 2018]
Lateral view of a juvenile Magpie Goose
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, August 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Magpie Goose, centre,
in comparison with two adults (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, August 2018]
Adult Magpie Geese, right, with two juveniles on the left
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, July 2018]
Magpie Geese, in part juveniles with mottled grey-brown fronts,
together with a
Royal Spoonbill
in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, September 2018]
Lateral view of juvenile Magpie Geese at about half the size of
adult birds
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2011]
Frontal view of a Magpie Goose with 4 goslings
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Port Douglas, QLD, January 2019]
Near-dorsal view of Magpie Geese with goslings
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Black Duck Reserve, Murrumba Downs, near Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]
Near-dorsal view of two Magpie Goose goslings
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
Near-dorsal view of a female Magpie Goose with 8 goslings
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Lagoon Creek, Narrabri, NSW, September 2021]
Dorsal view of a female Magpie Goose with two chicks on the
retreat after being disturbed
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
Lateral view of a female Magpie Goose with a young chick
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]
Lateral view of adult Magpie Geese with three small chicks
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]
This family of Magpie Geese with very young chicks was observed when
the first autumnal cold change of the season hit the area and other
aquatic birds had already moulted into their non-breeding
plumages
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Mar - May | Eggs: 6 - 9 | Incubation period: 23 - 28 days | Fledging age: 21 - 28 days |
The breeding season of Magpie Geese depends on geographical latitude and weather conditions. In the tropical North of the continent they breed after the end of the rainy season, in the South-east typically in spring, but possibly any time after substantial rainfall.
Male Magpie Geese can have several females lay eggs in their nests.
Nest building: Male(?) | Incubation: Male & females | Dependent care: Females & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Trampled reeds, grass, sedges, rushes | Height above ground: N/A |
Nests are trampled platforms above shallow water, with some extra vegetation laid on top.
Female Magpie Goose on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]
Closer view of a female Magpie Goose on its nest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]
Female Magpie Goose on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD,
September 2020]
Female Magpie Goose on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD,
September 2020]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 74 x 50 mm | Colour: Creamy-white, later stained brownish | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Nomadic/dispersive | Elementary unit: Flock |
Note that Magpie Geese, although mainly aquatic birds, do not rest in water overnight. Instead, they roost in high trees, typically River Red Gums or other eucalypts, often along watercourses.
Magpie Geese going to roost (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Hasties Swamp, near Atherton, QLD, January 2012]
Magpie Geese settling in for the night in trees on a small island in
a fresh water lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2014]
Magpie Geese resting during the day in shallow water in
a fresh water lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2016]
We have observed the mother Magpie Geese sending their chicks out onto open grassland for grazing.
Magpie Geese "nursery" moving on
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2016]
This shot shows a small flock of Magpie Geese living in the shallow
water of a freshwater lake,
resting on mudflats
and shielded from observers by reeds; the photo was taken
from an elevated position in a tree about 50 m away
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2013]
Small flock of Magpie Geese sheltering from high wind
(photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, October 2016]
For reasons unknown to us, this Magpie Goose is being harassed by an
Australian Magpie
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Carrara, Gold Coast, QLD, February 2015]
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Food, Diet |
Like all other geese, ducks and swans, Magpie Geese are vegetarian. Magpie Geese feed on underwater plants. Note that the chicks seen above were sent out to graze on grass in a park.
Magpie Geese that have just been digging in mud for food
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, August 2017]
Magpie-Geese feeding in shallow water
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]
Magpie-Geese feeding in submerged grassland
[Fogg Dam CR,
NT, August 2014]
Magpie Geese not only live on water and feed under water - they
also drink the wet stuff...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, April 2011]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
maggoos_20200525.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning calls | © MD | |
maggoos_20151015_2.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning calls (flock) | © MD | |
maggoos_20151015_3.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning calls (flock) | © MD | |
maggoos_20170626.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning calls (flock) | © MD | |
maggoos_20170626_2.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning calls (flock) | © MD |
More Magpie Goose sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.