About Chloephaga melanoptera (Eyton, 1838)
Andean goose, with the scientific name Chloephaga melanoptera (Eyton, 1838), measures 70 to 76 cm (28 to 30 in) in length and weighs between 2.73 and 3.64 kg (6.0 and 8.0 lb). Both sexes have identical plumage. Adult Andean geese have entirely white heads and bodies. Some of their scapular feathers have sooty centers, while others are dark brown, which creates a striped appearance on the shoulders. The primary flight feathers of the wing and the tail are black with a greenish gloss. Their bill is coral red with a black nail, and their legs and feet are light red. Downy juvenile Andean geese are mostly white, marked with some blackish spots and streaks. Older immature birds are similar to adults but have duller coloration. Their bodies are somewhat off-white, the sides of their heads are often partially gray, and their scapulars are brownish gray. This species is distributed from the Ancash and Junín departments of Peru southward through western Bolivia to Chile's Ñuble Region, and extends into Catamarca Province in Argentina. It lives in open grasslands, bogs, and along the shores of lakes and lagoons. It is found almost entirely at elevations above 3,000 m (9,800 ft), but will temporarily move to lower elevations in Chile during periods of heavy winter snow.
