Large goose approximately 75–80 cm in length, with a thick neck and robust body. Overall coloration predominantly white with black back and tail; the back shows dark feathers with pale edges. Bill short, high, and stout, pink with a black tip. Legs pinkish-orange. In flight, it shows broad wings with a highly contrasting pattern, with black primaries and dark coverts with a violet or purplish sheen contrasting with the white of the rest of the wing. Sexes are similar, although the male is considerably larger and more robust than the female. It may resemble other sheldgeese of the same genus, although within its range it is unmistakable, being the only goose characteristic of high-altitude environments in northwestern Argentina.
Geographic distribution: Distributed along the Andes from Peru and Bolivia to northwestern Argentina and Chile, reaching south to Mendoza. In Argentina it mainly inhabits high Andean environments in the northwest, with records from Jujuy to Mendoza. In Tucumán it is locally common in the Calchaquí Valleys, especially at Dique La Angostura (El Mollar), and in higher environments in the Calchaquí Mountains (pers. obs.).
Habitat: Inhabits wet meadows, bofedales, moist grasslands, and the edges of lagoons, rivers, and salt flats in high Andean and Puna environments; generally between 2,500 and 5,000 m a.s.l., although in winter it descends to valleys and lower areas.
Diet: Herbivorous, feeding mainly on grasses and marsh plants obtained by grazing, generally on land and rarely while swimming. It also consumes vegetation from agricultural areas, including species such as alfalfa, clover, and cereals.
Behavior: Generally observed in pairs or family groups during the breeding season and in flocks during the non-breeding season, especially in winter. It is a mostly terrestrial species, spending much of its time grazing and avoiding swimming, using water mainly when threatened or when with chicks. During breeding, pairs are territorial in the vicinity of the nest. Flight is heavy, straight, and noisy, used mainly to escape threats. Vocalizations differ between sexes: the male emits whistles and the female louder honks.
Nesting: Nests on the ground using a simple depression or scrape among low vegetation or on slopes near water, where it may lay 2 to 10 eggs. The female incubates for approximately 30 days, while the male remains vigilant. Both parents participate in caring for the chicks, which are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, following their parents, often swimming.
Conservation status: Categorized internationally as Least Concern (LC), but considered Vulnerable (VU) in Argentina. Although it has a wide distribution and relatively significant populations, local populations are affected by habitat loss and degradation, especially in wintering areas associated with agricultural expansion, grazing, and human development, as well as by direct persecution due to its habit of feeding on crops. It may also be affected by the transformation of high Andean environments, including wet meadows and wetlands, linked to activities such as mining.
Compiler of this work: María Belén Dri and Diego Carús – 04/25/2026