Birds
Ruddy-headed Goose
Chloephaga rubidiceps · also called ruddy-headed geese
Once common across mainland Patagonian grassland, a ruddy-headed goose has collapsed there under pressure from introduced foxes, surviving today mainly on the predator-free Falkland Islands where its reddish-brown head remains a familiar sight.
Overview
The ruddy-headed goose, Chloephaga rubidiceps, is a Near Threatened waterfowl species native to grassland and coastal habitat across the Falkland Islands, with a small remnant population on the South American mainland. Its severe mainland collapse from introduced predators, its comparative security on predator-free islands, and its status as the smallest Patagonian goose make it one of the more conservation-relevant waterfowl found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
A tale of two populations
While the mainland population of the ruddy-headed goose has all but disappeared under pressure from foxes it never evolved to escape, the same species continues to thrive just offshore on the Falkland Islands, a stark illustration of how a single introduced predator can reshape a species’ entire geographic story.
Status
Near Threatened, having collapsed severely on the South American mainland due to introduced predators, while the separate Falkland Islands population remains comparatively secure.
Ruddy-headed Goose: common questions
Why has the ruddy-headed goose declined so much on the mainland?
This species has undergone a severe population collapse on the South American mainland, driven largely by predation from introduced red foxes and grey foxes that the species never evolved defences against.
Is the ruddy-headed goose doing better anywhere?
Yes, this species maintains a comparatively secure population on the Falkland Islands, where the absence of the introduced predators found on the mainland has allowed numbers to persist.
How can you identify a ruddy-headed goose?
This species has a distinctive reddish-brown head and neck, a feature that gives it its common name and helps separate it from other closely related Patagonian geese.
How does the ruddy-headed goose compare in size with other Patagonian geese?
This species is the smallest of the geese native to southern South America, noticeably more compact than larger relatives such as the upland goose.