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Species authority page

Egyptian goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca · Geese · Waterfowl · Migratory game birds

Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca): Heavy-bodied goose, 63-76 cm, mostly shades of tan and brown. Dark neck ring and black eye patch. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and date

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Egyptian goose perched on a rock
Photo by Diana Parkhouse on Unsplash
Scientific name
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Family
Anatidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
Native to sub-Saharan Africa and the Nile Valley. Escaped birds have established wild populations in Florida (largest), Texas and California, mostly in urban and suburban areas.
Biology

How to identify it

Heavy-bodied goose, 63-76 cm, mostly shades of tan and brown. [1][2][3]

Dark neck ring and black eye patch. [1][2][3]

Big white patches on black wings striking in flight. [1][2][3]

Sexes similar; male slightly larger. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

Where it lives

Freshwater wetlands, lakes, ponds and rivers, and urban and suburban habitats; mostly urban and suburban areas in North America (USFWS quoting Braun 2004). [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Non-native; will not populate densely wooded areas, found in meadows, grasslands, agricultural fields and around rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands (USFWS, citing Tattan 2004) [1][2][3]

Aggressive toward other bird species, which may keep smaller species from establishing territories (USFWS ERSS) [1][2][3]

Regulatory handoff

Take status not established

North Ground has not established meaningful legal take of this species. That is a gap in the evidence, not a finding that it is protected or that it is open.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native to sub-Saharan Africa and the Nile Valley. Escaped birds have established wild populations in Florida (largest), Texas and California, mostly in urban and suburban areas.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · reviewed 2026-09-30

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

  2. National Audubon Society · reviewed 2026-09-30

    National Audubon Society

  3. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe