Egyptian Goose

No distinct seasonal dimorphism; plumage year-round contrastingly grey-brown to beige. Distinctive dark eye patch, brown breast patch, and prominent white wing coverts that are clearly visible in flight. Underparts lighter than the upperparts.

Identical to the breeding plumage (monomorphic), as no classical plumage change occurs between seasons.

Duller and less contrastingly colored; the characteristic dark eye patch and breast patch are missing or only faintly indicated. Legs and bill are more greyish-yellow instead of pink.

Minimal; males tend to be slightly larger and heavier. The most distinct difference is in the vocalization: males hiss hoarsely, while females give loud, cackling calls.

Dark eye patch ('spectacles'), brown breast patch, pink legs and bill with a dark nail. In flight, the large white wing patches on the upper and underwings are conspicuous.

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), which is more uniformly orange-brown and lacks the dark eye patch.

Pink to flesh-colored with a dark border at the base of the bill and a dark nail at the tip.

No song in the classical sense; instead loud, rhythmic territorial calls.

Males: hoarse, wheezy hissing. Females: very loud, piercing, and rapid cackling ('honk-honk-honk'), especially when excited.

Originally Africa (sub-Saharan and Nile Valley). Widely distributed in Europe as an invasive species, especially in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Great Britain.

In Europe largely resident; in its African native range partially nomadic depending on water availability.

In Central Europe predominantly resident. During extreme cold spells, only local movements to ice-free water bodies occur.

Strongly associated with water bodies (lakes, rivers, park ponds, gravel pits) with adjacent open grazing areas or lawns. Highly adaptable, also found in urban areas.

Grassland, agricultural land (cereals, oilseed rape), parks, and riparian zones.

Very versatile: often uses old nests of raptors or crows in trees, tree hollows, buildings, or nests on the ground in dense vegetation. Nest is lined with down.

Creamy white, smooth and slightly glossy; size approx. 70 x 50 mm.

Both parents intensively care for the precocial young. The chicks are guarded and led to foraging grounds; aggressive defense against predators.

Predominantly herbivorous: grasses, herbs, seeds, young shoots, and occasionally small invertebrates.

Winter cereals, oilseed rape, crop residues (e.g., maize), grasses on pastures and in parks.

Grazing on vegetation on land; dabbling in shallow water for aquatic plants.

Opportunistic herbivore; usually searches for food in flocks on open areas with good visibility.

Pair-forming and highly territorial during the breeding season; gregarious in flocks outside the breeding season, often associated with Greylag Geese.

Formation of larger molting and winter flocks at safe water bodies.

No threat in Europe; populations are regulated through hunting and management measures (Invasive species).

Strongly increasing in Europe; continuous expansion into new areas.

No conservation measures required; the species is on the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (EU Regulation 1143/2014).