Swan Goose
EN

Swan Goose

Anser cygnoides

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_goose

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Swan Goose populations have declined dramatically due to extensive hunting pressure and widespread habitat loss across their breeding and wintering grounds. Wetland drainage for agriculture and urban development has eliminated critical nesting sites, while overhunting during migration has severely reduced breeding populations. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns in their Central Asian breeding habitats, affecting water levels in essential wetland areas.

Threat summary

Habitat

Swan Geese breed in shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, and river valleys across Mongolia and northern China, preferring areas with emergent vegetation for nesting. During winter, they inhabit coastal wetlands, agricultural fields, and large inland lakes in eastern China and the Korean Peninsula.

FRESHWATER· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorFRESHWATER· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Swan Goose classified as Endangered?
Swan Goose is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Swan Goose populations have declined dramatically due to extensive hunting pressure and widespread habitat loss across their breeding and wintering grounds. Wetland drainage for agriculture and urban development has eliminated critical nesting sites, while overhunting during migration has severely reduced breeding populations. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns in their Central Asian breeding habitats, affecting water levels in essential wetland areas.
Where does Swan Goose live?
Swan Goose occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Swan Goose?
The main threats to Swan Goose are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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