Abyssinian Blue-Winged Goose

Cyanochen cyanoptera

A brown goose with powder-blue wing patches that lives only in the highlands of Ethiopia and whistles instead of honking.

🦆 Waterfowl

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About the Abyssinian Blue-Winged Goose

Abyssinian blue-winged geese stand about 24 to 30 inches tall and weigh about 3.3 pounds. They are brown, lighter on the head and chest, with powder-blue patches on the wings. They live along highland rivers, lakes, marshes and streams with short grassy meadows nearby, and they mostly graze on grasses and sedges, plus worms, insects and snails.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Cyanochen cyanoptera^[1]
Size: About 24 to 30 inches tall.^[1]
Weight: About 3.3 pounds.^[1]
Diet: Mostly grasses and sedges, plus worms, insects, snails and small reptiles.^[1]
Habitat: Banks of highland rivers, lakes, marshes and streams with short grass.^[1]
Where it lives: The highlands of Ethiopia.^[1]
Babies: 4 to 7 eggs, incubated 30 to 35 days.^[1]
Conservation status: Near Threatened (IUCN Red List, assessed 2021).^[2]

Fun facts

Abyssinia is the old name for Ethiopia.^[1]
These geese whistle softly instead of honking.^[1]
Their closest relative is believed to be the Andean goose.^[1]

Vocabulary

endemic: Found naturally in only one place in the world.
highlands: High, mountainous land.
sedge: A grass-like plant that grows in wet places.
courtship: Behavior animals use to attract a mate.
near threatened: A conservation label meaning a species may soon be at risk of dying out if things don't improve.

See it in person

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, Nebraska · Hubbard Gorilla ValleySee this area on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Abyssinian Blue-Winged Goose.” https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/birds/abyssinian-blue-winged-goose/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Cyanochen cyanoptera (Blue-winged Goose).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679961/208106800 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

More Waterfowl

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White-Faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduataA long-necked duck of Africa and South America with a white face that whistles instead of quacking and often perches in trees.