Upland goose  (Chloephaga picta)

Visitors to the Falkland Islands will no doubt be familiar with the upland goose, one of the most conspicuous birds on the island group (3) (4). However, the Falklands population (Chloephaga picta leucoptera) represents only one of two subspecies of the upland goose, with the other subspecies (C. p. picta) ranging through southern mainland South America (2) (5). In common with other sheldgeese (Chloephaga sp.), the upland goose has a relatively upright stance and long, powerful legs, well adapted to walking, running and feeding on land (2). Not only do the sexes have different plumage, but the two subspecies differ slightly in appearance, while the male of the mainland subspecies, otherwise known as the lesser upland goose, occurs in two distinct forms. The white form of the male lesser upland goose has a white head, neck, breast and belly, with black barring on the rear flanks and mantle. The wings are boldly patterned black, white and metallic green, and the tail is black. The barred form is identical to the white form, except that the entire undersurface of the body is barred black and white. In contrast with both forms of the male, the female lesser upland goose has a cinnamon-brown head and neck, cinnamon-white underparts, flanks and mantle, all of which are heavily barred black, and a black tail, glossed with green. The male Falkland upland goose is slightly larger than its mainland counterpart, but in appearance closely resembles the white form, with narrower black barring on the rear flanks. Similarly, the female Falklands upland goose is larger than the mainland female, and has a brighter reddish-cinnamon head, and wider cinnamon barring on the underparts (2) (5).