Bar-headed goose

Scientific name: Anser indicus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Adults are pale grey-brown with a white head marked by two bold black bars running vertically across the crown and nape. They have orange-yellow bill and legs; sexes are similar, though males average slightly larger and darker.

Size and weight

Males 1.9–2.5 kg, females 1.6–2.2 kg; body length 71–76 cm.

Habitat

Bar-headed geese inhabit high-altitude wetlands, lakes, and river valleys in Central Asia, typically between 3,000–5,000 m elevation. They prefer open water bodies with adjacent grasslands and marshes for grazing.

Distribution

Breeds across the Pamir, Hindu Kush, and Tibetan Plateau regions; winters in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh at lower elevations. Populations follow well-defined migration corridors between breeding and wintering grounds.

Diet

Bar-headed geese graze primarily on grasses, sedges, and aquatic vegetation; they also glean grain and seeds in agricultural areas during migration and winter.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious and migratory; active mainly during dawn and dusk, though they also feed throughout the day. They form tight flocks in flight and on water, and are wary and alert with strong, rapid wing-beats.

Hunting tips

Look for tracks and droppings along shorelines and muddy banks; flocks leave obvious grazing sign on grasslands. Approach from low ground or vegetation cover, as these geese are exceptionally alert; early morning and evening offer best visibility near roosting water. Use decoys near feeding areas and exploit their predictable flight lines between roosts and feeding grounds.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Norway

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.