About Chloephaga rubidiceps P.L.Sclater, 1861
The ruddy-headed goose, Chloephaga rubidiceps P.L.Sclater, 1861, ranges from 45 to 52.5 cm (18 to 21 in) in total length. Males weigh between 1.65 and 2.02 kg (3.6 to 4.5 lb), while females weigh 1.20 to 1.50 kg (2.6 to 3.3 lb). Adult individuals of both sexes share identical plumage. Their heads and necks are red-brown; their back, breast, and flanks are gray and buff with brown barring; their belly is cinnamon; and their tail is black. The upperside of their wing is gray, and the underside of their wing is a mix of gray, black, and white. This species has a black bill, and orange legs and feet marked with black. Juvenile ruddy-headed geese resemble adults, but their overall coloration is duller. In terms of distribution and habitat, the ruddy-headed goose occurs in eastern Chilean and Argentinian portions of Tierra del Fuego, extending north from this region into Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is also present on the Falkland Islands. It lives in open landscapes including meadows, Pampas wetlands, pond borders, and coastal grasslands.
