About Cyanochen cyanoptera (Rüppell, 1845)
This species, scientifically named Cyanochen cyanoptera (Rüppell, 1845), is a stocky, goose-like bird measuring 60 to 75 centimeters (24 to 30 inches) long. Its body plumage is grey-brown, with a slightly paler head and upper neck. It has a small black bill and black legs. When standing, the bird appears fairly dull, with a mix of grey and dirty white tones, and sometimes shows blue coloring along the edge of its wing. Males and females have similar appearances, while immature individuals are duller than adults. Its plumage is thick and loose, an adaptation to the cold conditions of the Ethiopian highlands. In flight, the pale blue upper forewing stands out clearly; the primary flight feathers are black, and the secondary flight feathers are black with a green gloss. On the underwing, the primaries and secondaries are black, and the inner forewing is white. This bird prefers high-altitude habitats between 2,500 and 4,000 meters, in subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland or grassland. It typically occurs in grasslands located close to rivers, freshwater lakes, swamps, freshwater marshes, and water storage areas.
