Swan Goose

Anser cygnoid 

SSP Coordinator:

Christine A. Fuehrmeyer, Lincoln Park Zoo 

Vice Coordinator:

Nikki L Finch-Mason, Lincoln Park Zoo

The swan goose (Anser cygnoides) is a large, elegant goose native to eastern Asia and is classified as Vulnerable in the wild due to significant population declines. It breeds in open wetlands, including steppe lakes, marshes, river floodplains, and grassy areas near water, and migrates south to winter in lakes, reservoirs, and agricultural landscapes. Swan geese are primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, roots, and agricultural grains, often grazing on land as well as foraging in shallow water. Habitat loss, wetland drainage, disturbance, and hunting have contributed to their decline, making the protection of key wetland and migration sites essential for their conservation.