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A Bar-headed Goose is a rare migratory bird. Recently It was sighted for the first time in Morshing village. It is  located in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

About Bar-headed Goose

• Scientific Name: Anser indicus
• Status: It is a migratory bird species and is known to be one of the highest-flying birds in the world.

Key Features of the Bar-headed Goose

• Flying Ability: The Bar-headed Goose is capable of flying at altitudes up to 25,000 feet, migrating over the Himalayas, where oxygen levels are low, and temperatures are extreme.
• Physical Characteristics:
  • Color: The bird is primarily gray and white with two horseshoe-shaped, brownish-black bars on the back of its white head.
  • Bill and Legs: The bill and legs are typically pink, orange, or yellow.
  • Wingspan: The wingspan of the Bar-headed Goose ranges from 140 to 160 cm.
  • Sexual Dimorphism: Male and female birds look alike, but the male is slightly larger than the female.
• Behavior:
  • The species generally forms monogamous pairs and is known to be a seasonal breeder.

Bar-headed Goose Distribution

• Breeding Grounds: Native to Central Asia, where the species breeds.
• Migration: During the winter, they migrate to parts of South Asia. They are found in countries such as:
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Nepal
  • Kazakhstan
  • Bangladesh
  • Myanmar
  • Japan
  • Other nearby regions
• Geographical Range in India: Their range extends from the northeast to the southern parts of India.

Bar-headed Goose Habitat

• Breeding Habitat: They prefer high-altitude lakes during the breeding season.
• Wintering Habitat: In winter, they are found near freshwater lakes, rivers, streams, and other water bodies.
• They are also seen in rocky regions, farmlands, and marshes.

Conservation Status

• The Bar-headed Goose is classified as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List, meaning it currently does not face any significant threats of extinction.

The sighting of the Bar-headed Goose in Morshing village adds to the significance of the biodiversity found in Arunachal Pradesh and highlights the species' migratory patterns.

Source: Northeasttoday