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Bar-headed Goose facts for kids

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Bar-headed Goose
Bar-headed Goose - St James's Park, London - Nov 2006.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Anseriformes
Family:
Anatidae
Subfamily:
Anserinae
Tribe:
Anserini
Genus:
Anser
Species:
A. indicus
Binomial name
Anser indicus
(Latham, 1790)
Synonyms

Eulabeia indica

The bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) is a special type of goose that lives in wetland areas of Central Asia. It has a light grey body, wide wings, and a white face and neck. You can tell it apart by the two dark stripes, or "bars," that wrap around the back of its head. Just like other geese, its feet are webbed, which helps it swim. These geese can grow up to 2.5 feet long and weigh about 6.5 pounds. They mostly eat grass, wheat, barley, and rice.

Amazing Bar-Headed Geese

The bar-headed goose is known for its incredible ability to fly very high. These birds often fly over the Himalayas, which are some of the tallest mountains in the world! Imagine flying higher than most airplanes. They can do this because their bodies are specially made to handle low oxygen levels at high altitudes.

Where Do Bar-Headed Geese Live?

These geese spend their summers in the high mountains of Central Asia, like Tibet and Mongolia. When winter comes, they fly south to warmer places. They often travel to India, Nepal, and other parts of South Asia. This long journey is called migration.

What Do They Eat?

Bar-headed geese are mainly herbivores, meaning they eat plants. Their favorite foods include different kinds of grass, especially young, fresh shoots. They also enjoy eating grains like wheat, barley, and rice from farm fields. Sometimes, they might eat small insects or other tiny creatures they find in the water.

How Do They Communicate?

Bar-headed geese make loud, honking sounds. They use these calls to talk to each other, especially when they are flying in large groups. The sounds help them stay together and warn each other about danger.

Family Life of Geese

Bar-headed geese usually lay about 3 to 8 eggs in a nest built on the ground near water. Both parents help to take care of the eggs and the young goslings once they hatch. The goslings grow quickly and learn to fly in just a few months.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ánsar indio para niños

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Bar-headed Goose Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.