A large goose, length 70cm (27.3 inches). Male is white barred with black and has black legs, female is predominantly rufous brown and body barred with yellow legs.  

The Upland goose has a long history of conflict with farmers which in 1905 led to an Ordinance being passed putting a bounty on Upland goose beaks. Upland geese can still be shot for human consumption. Warrahs, Falkland wolves, before they were expirated in 1876 were known to kill a lot of these geese so a natural predator was removed.

Upland geese are widely distributed resident breeders on the Falkland Islands, and in South America they are common residents of Tierra del Fuego, southern islands of the Beagle Channel, and of western Patagonia. Some races migrate as far as 38°S on mainland South America. It is still abundant despite reduction by farmers and hunters.  

Sources include: Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008 Otley H, Munro G, Clausen A, Ingham B. A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods.

Photographic credits: Ali & Marlane Marsh, Robert Maddocks

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