A remarkable waterbird native to East Asia, easily recognized by its long neck, large body, and striking facial markings. Unlike many of its goose relatives with shorter, thicker necks, the Swan goose has a slender neck that gives it a graceful, almost swan-like appearance—hence its name. Its plumage is a soft blend of browns and grays, with a distinct dark stripe running from the crown of the head down the back of the neck, contrasting with its pale face and underparts. This bold stripe is one of the easiest ways to tell it apart from other geese in the wild. Another unique feature is its bill, which is longer and wedge-shaped than most geese, helping it forage efficiently on grasses, roots, and aquatic plants along riverbanks and marshes.
The Swan goose’s role as both a wild bird and a domestic ancestor is especially interesting. While wild populations breed in Mongolia, northern China, and southeastern Russia, humans domesticated this species centuries ago to create the Chinese goose, a domesticated breed still raised today for eggs, meat, and as ornamental birds. Unlike their wild cousins, Chinese geese often have a knob at the base of the bill, but their origins can be traced directly back to the Swan goose. This connection sets the Swan goose apart from many other wild geese—it is not just a bird of wetlands and migration, but also part of human agricultural history, shaping farm life in parts of Asia for generations.
Behaviorally, Swan geese differ from some other geese in that they are highly terrestrial grazers. While they use wetlands and rivers for breeding and resting, they spend much of their time in grasslands and meadows, feeding more like cattle than dabbling ducks. In winter, they migrate southward in large, noisy flocks to China, Korea, and occasionally as far as Japan, filling the skies with honking calls as they travel.
Distribution
China
Japan
Kazakhstan
Korea
Mongolia
North Korea
Russia
Turkmenistan
UzbekistanAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
