Blue-winged Goose

It is a stocky grey-brown goose-like bird about 60–75 centimetres (24–30 in) long with a slightly paler head and upper neck. It has a small black bill and black legs. Standing birds look fairly dull, grey and dirty white, sometimes showing the blue along the edge of the wing. The sexes are similar, but immature birds are duller. The plumage is thick and loose, an adaptation to the cold of the Ethiopian highlands. In flight, the pale blue upper forewing is conspicuous; the primary feathers are black, and the secondary feathers black glossed green. The underwing has black primaries and secondaris, and a white inner forewing.

Voice. The blue-winged goose is a quiet species, but both sexes may give a high-pitched whistle; it does not honk or cackle like the true geese, but may make a barking alarm call when flushed.

Its preferred habitat is grasslands close to rivers, freshwater lakes, swamps, freshwater marshes, water storage areas, in high altitude subtropical or tropical shrubland or grassland at 2,500–4,000 m altitude.

It feeds by grazing, and is apparently largely nocturnal, loafing during the day. It can swim and fly well, but this terrestrial bird is reluctant to do either, and is quite approachable. It forms flocks of up to 100 outside the breeding season. It breeds by mountain lakes and streams. The nests of wild birds have not been described; in captivity, it builds a lined nest amongst grass tussocks, and lays 6–7 eggs.