UPLAND or MAGELLAN GOOSE Chloephaga picta

An abundant and highly social sheldgoose of southern South America and the Falklands, found on open grassland. Despite much persecution from cattle and sheep farmers numbers have remained high. Birds pair long-term and breed in open colonies, moving near to water with goslings and for moulting, when they may become flightless. Southernmost populations move north in winter to more temperate areas. The Falkland birds are larger, sedentary and form the race leucoptera which has only a white phase (see next taxa).

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