The aggressive Egyptian goose

The Egyptian goose is a member of the duck, goose and swan family. They are found mostly in the Nile Valley and near water bodies South of the Sahara. In Uganda, they are found along the Nile and around Lake Victoria. They are fairly large birds that are predominantly brown in colour, with a distinctive white patch on the wing and beautiful pink feet.

They are aggressively territorial towards their own species when breeding and can defend their territory with force. They pursue intruders into the air and attack them in aerial combat. Sometimes, they can kill their neighbour’s offspring to maximise opportunities for their young ones in competing for resources like food. These geese were domesticated and were revered by the ancient Egyptians.

The male attracts its mate with a noisy courtship stint that includes honking, neck stretching  and feather displays. When disturbed, a male might hiss. But the female is more aggressive than the male, especially when it has young ones to care for. The female is also smaller than the male, with darker markings on the beak. They can live up to 25 years in captivity