Orinoco Goose Neochen jubata (Oressochen jubatus)

Orinoco Goose
Orinoco Goose
Orinoco Goose
The Orinoco Goose is a shelduck (sheldgoose) native to lakes and marshes of tropical forests in northern South America.
Orinoco Goose
Orinoco Goose
Orinoco Goose
Male and female have similar plumage and bill. They live in pairs or family groups. Some populations migrate from rainforest rivers in the wet season to more southernly savannas.
Orinoco Goose
Orinoco Goose
Orinoco Goose
They prefer walking to flying or swimming. The population is decreasing and "near threatened", mainly through hunting and habitat loss.
The Orinoco Goose is the only living species in genus Neochen. Its closest relative is the high altitude Andean Goose (currently/previously Chloephaga melanoptera). 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, making the Orinoco Goose Oressochen jubatus.