# Egyptian Goose (*Alopochen aegyptiaca*)

The Egyptian goose (*Alopochen aegyptiaca*) is a bird of the family Anatidae, in the order Anseriformes.

> The Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) is a large waterbird of Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley, with a chocolate-brown patch around each eye and in the centre of the breast, pink legs and big white wing patches. Despite its name it is more closely related to shelducks than to true geese. Introduced birds now live wild across western Europe. It is listed as Least Concern.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN-style):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley. Introduced populations live in Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/egyptian-goose/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Anseriformes
- **Family:** Anatidae
- **Genus:** Alopochen

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Alopochen aegyptiaca |
| Diet | Grass, seeds, leaves and crops; some invertebrates |
| Habitat | Rivers, lakes, wetlands, farmland and parks |
| Height | 63–73 cm |
| Weight | 1.5–2.3 kg |
| Oldest ringed bird | 15 years 1 month (BTO) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018) |

## Identification

Egyptian geese are pale buff-brown with a darker back, a brown patch around each eye, a brown spot in the middle of the breast, pink bill and legs, and large white wing patches that show in flight. Young birds lack the eye and breast patches.

## Not a true goose

The species belongs to the shelduck group of waterfowl rather than the true geese. Pairs are noisy and aggressive in the breeding season and often nest in tree holes, on buildings or in old nests of other birds.

## Sacred in ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptians kept the bird and depicted it in tomb paintings and hieroglyphs. Today it is widespread from the Nile Valley across Africa south of the Sahara to South Africa.

## Status and spread

BirdLife International lists the Egyptian goose as Least Concern (2018). Escaped ornamental birds have established large populations in Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and the European Union lists it as an invasive alien species of Union concern.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Egyptian goose a goose?

Not strictly. It is more closely related to shelducks than to true geese, despite its name.

### Is the Egyptian goose invasive?

In Europe, yes. Introduced populations have grown quickly, and the European Union lists it as an invasive alien species of Union concern.

### Where do Egyptian geese come from?

From Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley.

### How long do Egyptian geese live?

The oldest ringed Egyptian goose in the BTO's records lived 15 years.

## Sources

- [BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/egyptian-goose-alopochen-aegyptiaca)
- [Animal Diversity Web: Alopochen aegyptiaca. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Alopochen_aegyptiaca/)
- [BTO BirdFacts: Egyptian Goose. British Trust for Ornithology.](https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/egyptian-goose)
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
- [Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/)

## Help protect the Egyptian Goose

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/egyptian-goose/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.