Andean Goose Chloephaga melanoptera

Andean Goose
Andean Goose
Andean Goose with Muscovy duck Andean Goose with Muscovy Duck
The Andean Goose is a shelduck (sheldgoose) native to Andean lakes and waters of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Male and female have similar plumage. They are mainly terrestrial but fly or swim to escape danger.
The closest relative to the high altitude Andean Goose is the Orinoco Goose. Several experts claim that the two northern shelducks are sufficiently close to each other and sufficiently distant from the southern shelducks (Upland/Magellan, Ashy-headed, Ruddy-headed, Kelp) in Chloephaga that they should both be in Neochen genus or in the earlier Andean Oressochen genus.