Uspensky S. Our ducks and geese. Geese. Sukhonos. Dry-nosed goose - description, habitat, interesting facts Which order does the dry-nosed goose belong to?
Sukhonos is one of the largest geese of the world fauna.
Taxonomy
Russian name -dry nose, dry nose goose
Latin name-Anser cygnoides
English name- Swan goose
Class - Birds (Aves)
Squad – Anseriformes
Family – Ducks (Anatidae)
Genus – Geese (Anser)
Conservation status
Sukhonos refers to rare species. According to some data, the total number of the world population of suknosov does not exceed 10,000 individuals. However, other researchers believe (judging by the number of geese in wintering grounds) that the number of swan-nose geese is higher and amounts to at least 50,000 individuals, and some nesting sites of these geese are simply not yet known (for example, in Mongolia).
The dry nasal plant is listed in the International Red Book as a vulnerable species - IUCN(VU).
On the territory of our country, the dry nose is an endangered species; it is in this status that it is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Its number here does not exceed 200 nesting pairs.
The main factors determining the ongoing decline in the number of suknosov are the extreme gullibility and curiosity of geese, as well as the easy accessibility of nesting sites. Of course, the ongoing hunting of suknosov, especially in wintering grounds, also plays a negative role.
Species and man
Sukhonos are very easy to tame and live well in captivity. In China, dry-billed geese were domesticated 3,000 years ago and became the ancestors of the Chinese domestic geese breeds. These domestic geese are much larger than their wild ancestors and have big shot at the base of the beak.
And residents of the Amur basin to this day collect swan eggs and place them under domestic geese in order to later have an additional source of poultry meat.
Distribution and habitats
Sukhonos lives in southern parts Eastern Siberia, northern China and Mongolia. In Russia, its nesting sites are also found in the Middle and Lower Amur region, in Transbaikalia and in the north of Sakhalin. Dry noses live in mountainous and lowland landscapes, but are always associated with rivers or lakes. In the mountains, they nest in the valleys of lakes and floodplains of rivers with pebble banks; in the valleys they inhabit fresh and brackish water bodies with banks overgrown with sedge, reeds and cattails. During migrations and migrations they are found even in dry steppes far from water.
Appearance
Sukhonos is one of the largest (if not the largest) geese of the Anser genus. Its weight ranges from 2.8 to 4.5 kg. Wingspan 160-185 cm. Neck length 81-94 cm (most Long neck among geese of the genus Anser). Males are slightly larger than females. We can say that the largest females are equal in size to the smallest males. The uniqueness of this species is the presence of a heavy, long, black beak (7.5-9.8 cm) with a white border around the base. But the paws are the same as those of all representatives of ducks - bright orange.
Females and males practically do not differ from each other in coloration. The top of the head and the back of the neck are dark brown, the back and sides are brown with brownish transverse stripes. The cheeks and the front of the neck are light, almost white. This sharp bicolor of the neck and head distinguishes the swan-nose from other geese.
Juveniles are paler in color than adults and lack the white border at the base of the beak. 
Lifestyle and social behavior.
Sukhonos are migratory species; their main wintering grounds are in eastern China.
These geese arrive at their nesting sites early, when the snow has not yet melted from the reservoirs. These spring flocks are usually not numerous, no more than 20-40 individuals. In autumn, dry-nose bats often form larger groups. IN autumn time, having gathered in a flock before leaving, geese behave very noisy and loud. From time to time such a flock takes off, makes several circles and lands again. In flight, members of the flock line up at an angle.
Where the dry noses are not disturbed, they are not at all afraid of people, moreover, they show outright curiosity. They fly very close and even make several circles over the object that interests them (a person, a dog). This behavior of dry-nose snakes was described by researchers and hunters in the 19th century; Nowadays it is unlikely that you can meet such trusting, curious and unafraid dry noses anywhere.
Young swan-noses that do not breed stay in flocks all summer and also molt together. During molting, they temporarily lose the ability to fly and, when restless, hide in the water, plunging into it so that only their heads are visible. Thus, they swim to some safe place with dense vegetation and there they quietly crawl ashore. Nesting adult swan moults molt during the brood without leaving it.
Vocalization
Nutrition
The main food of dry noses is herbaceous vegetation, species composition which varies depending on the nesting site of a given population. Most often these are succulent shoots of sedge. Geese readily eat larch needles, as well as various berries.
Reproduction, parental behavior and raising offspring.
Pairs in dry-nosed bats may form during wintering or during migration.
The nest is made in the grass in a small depression that the female digs; it is lined with dry plant stems and down. In high mountain areas, laying occurs later than in pairs nesting on the plain. They nest either in single pairs or in small colonies (in Mongolia). There are 5-8, usually 5-6, fairly large white eggs in a clutch. Only the female incubates for 28 days. The male remains near the nest all this time. Females incubate very tightly and are especially reluctant to leave the clutch at the end incubation period. Sometimes swan beetles are moved away from the nest or brood, imitating the inability to take off.
After the chicks hatch, several broods often join together and walk around accompanied by several adult geese. In case of danger, the chicks hide in the grass if the brood is on land, or dive deeply if in the water.
Sufferers become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 years.
Lifespan
In nature, sukunos live 10-15 years; in captivity they can live up to 25 years.
Life in the Moscow Zoo.
At the zoo, a group of dry-nosed snakes lives on the Big Pond Old territory. Now the group of dry-nosed whales numbers 46 individuals. Sukhonos at the zoo have always reproduced well. However, the reconstruction of the Big Pond “knocked them out of the rut” and for the last 2 years they have produced few offspring (so in the 2015 season there were only 5 goslings). In winter, dry-nose snakes remain on the Big Pond and are not transferred to a warm room.
The feed includes about 1 kg of various plant feeds (compound feed, grain, green feed).Everyone knows about the goose from childhood - in early years Most of us have heard the children's song about two geese living with grandma. From the fairy tale about the boy Nils, everyone knows what these birds look like. The easier it will be to talk about a representative of the goose family called the sukhnos.
The swan goose or Chinese goose is the most large bird from belonging to the duck family.
Appearance
Outwardly, it is quite similar to the domestic goose, but there are some differences: the neck of the dry goose is longer, white in front and on the sides, dark brown in the back, and the beak with a white border at the base is heavier and more massive. The beak of the dry nose is larger than that of other species - the length can be up to 10 centimeters. It is the size of this part of the body that distinguishes representatives of this species from other geese and gives them a certain peculiarity. The mandible has some swelling.
The weight of these birds ranges from 3 to 4.5 kilograms, body length reaches 1 meter 10 centimeters, wingspan - from 1.5 to 1.8 meters. Males are larger than females - somewhat larger. The color of the plumage of the dry nose is almost the same as that of its domestic counterparts, only it has more brown and ocher shades.
The belly, as well as the undertail and uppertail, are light white in color. The back, wings and side parts are dark gray in color with thin stripes running across, which have more light color. The neck and entire chest are fawn in color. A coffee-colored stripe runs from the very neck to the base of the beak; the underbeak plumage has the same color shades. The legs are small, but strong, red or orange, equipped with membranes, like those of any waterfowl.
Males and females have the same color, young ducks have one distinctive feature- until they reach adulthood, they are deprived of the distinctive light border that encircles the beak.
Habitat
Sukhonos can live everywhere - in the taiga, and in the steppe, and in the plains of the mountains. There, like all waterfowl, they choose places to live closer to bodies of water, settling on lake or river banks. Preference is given to coasts abundantly overgrown with vegetation. In Russia they are found in the Trans-Baikal Territory, in the coastal regions of Lake Baikal, on the banks of the Amur, on the island of Sakhalin, the coast Sea of Okhotsk. Several pairs live in the Kuril Islands. They fly to countries with milder climates for the winter - Japan and China; some birds choose for winter residence southern regions Uzbekistan.There is a version that it was precisely because of its frequent visits to China that the dry nasal was nicknamed the Chinese goose. Dry noses are also found in the regions of Inner Mongolia, in the steppes of Kazakhstan, Northern and South Korea, in Vietnam and Laos, Thailand and the Middle East. Preparing for the flight and getting ready for a huge flock, the geese show restlessness and make a lot of noise, emitting a long cackle. To cover large distances, they line up in a wedge - this method of movement makes it possible to cover a much greater distance than during a single flight. Because it is easier for birds to fly on the waves created by the flapping wings of birds flying ahead. The leader leading the flight has the most difficult time of all, so from time to time he goes to the very end of the flock, and another goose takes his place, after a while giving way to the next one.
Nutrition
Dry noses feed on all types of grains and cereals growing in nature - in this regard, they are omnivores and willingly eat river algae, any herbs, but preference is given to sedge, they eat all types of berries, they are also eaten earthworms, various kinds of beetles and caterpillars. In order to fully feed, geese choose open areas overgrown with grass near the shore of a reservoir, where they graze in a crowd, reminiscent of herds of livestock. Often, newly planted fields with grain are chosen for food, finding food in the ground.
Sukhonosov is quite easy to tame and breed at home, in zoological parks and special nurseries. Thanks to this species, domestic Chinese geese appeared. For geese living on a farm near a person, in addition to the food listed above, their diet is varied with compound feed, alfalfa, carrots, all types of cabbage, sugar beets and silage.
How do dry noses reproduce?
A pair of geese is chosen during the flight to their homeland or immediately after returning to their native land. They begin to build nests in May, choosing swampy areas near the water surface in reed thickets. The female digs a small hole in the ground and begins building a nest in it. The construction is made from the stems of last year's dry grass and plants growing near the water; the bottom is lined with down and feathers.
The female's clutch usually contains from five to eight eggs weighing about 15 g; she incubates them for 30 days, being in the nest the entire time. The male obtains food for feeding and performs guard duties.
The hatched ducklings, having dried out, leave the nest, move to the pond together with their parents and for a long time are under the supervision of parents, moving in small groups. Seeing an enemy, they seek refuge in the thick grass or dive into a pond. In the first months of life, adult birds do not release the young for more than open spaces, fearing attack from enemies. As a rule, only the next year children separate from the general flock, starting pairs. Until this time, they are under the supervision of adults.
Shedding
Molting and change of feathers depends on weather conditions; it occurs first in older birds that do not build nests. Then the young dry-nose moults begin to molt, approximately in early June. Adult and mature birds molt a month to a month and a half later - in July-August. The process lasts approximately 30 days.
Sukhonos and man
Hunting for the wild goose is prohibited, although cases of poaching and nest destruction do occur. Thus, the number of the species is steadily declining. The reasons for this are human activity: construction of various kinds of hydroelectric power stations, drainage of swamps, construction of land in floodplains, regulation of river flows, concern about human presence.
- The Sukhonos, unlike other species, is a sociable and not cowardly bird, and does not run away from people. This served not only for faster domestication, but also for the extermination of geese of this species.
- Sukhonos is a rare endangered species, therefore it is listed in the Red Book. There are no more than 10,000 individuals left in the world, and in Russia there are about 200 pairs of them.
- The male sukonos takes the protection of the nest very seriously. Cases were repeatedly observed when, in order to distract and lead away enemies, he pretended to be wounded and ran away, dragging the attacker along with him and leading him as far as possible.
- Sukhonos are excellent dives and swimmers. The goose got its name from the fact that, while plunging its whole body into the water while swimming, it holds its beak above the surface of the water surface.
- Only during migration and breeding do birds gather in flocks. Otherwise, they prefer to live in small groups - from 30 to 45 individuals.
Video: Swan goose (Anser cygnoides)
Everyone knows Goose. Since childhood, everyone has an idea of what a goose looks like, thank you folk tales and songs. Suffice it to remember “two cheerful geese lived with grandma.” But about who he is dry nose, a person not involved in ornithology is unlikely to be able to answer.
Features and habitat of the dry nose
Sukhonos is the most major representative duck family. Appearance swan goose similar to the usual domestic goose, but there are still differences: a more elongated graceful neck and a black heavy beak, bordered by a white stripe at the base. The beak, in comparison with other Anseriformes, is noticeably larger; in many geese it reaches 10 cm. The beak of male swan-nose seems slightly swollen.
The weight of this wild goose is 3-4.5 kg, the body length is up to 1 m, the wingspan is 1.5-1.8 m. Geese are somewhat inferior in size to males. The plumage of the swan-nose is similar to its gray domestic relatives; the color is dominated by shades of gray and brown.
The undertail, rump and belly area are whitish; the back, sides and wings are dark gray with thin light transverse stripes. The chest and neck are fawn, from the base of the neck to the beak there is a wide brown stripe on top, the plumage under the beak is the same color.
Females and males of the swan-nose are colored the same, but young animals can be quite distinguished from adults - young swan-nose do not have a characteristic white border around the beak. As a true representative of the duck family, the dry duck has strong, muscular legs with webbed feet.
They are painted in elegant Orange color. It's a pity that photo of sukhonos cannot convey the arrogance with which the goose walks along the ground in search of food. However, an important gait with a slightly forward chest is characteristic of all Anseriformes.
Dry noses are found in Southern Siberia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Northeast China, Korea, Japan, Laos, Thailand and Uzbekistan. In Russia, they nest in Transbaikalia and the Amur region, on Sakhalin, and fly to China and Japan for the winter, where climatic conditions softer.
Settle in swan birds, like most waterfowl, near fresh water bodies, where the vegetation is denser. They graze in coastal meadows, in sedges, and are less likely to be on the water.
Mountain plains, expanses of steppes and taiga are suitable for their habitat, the main thing is that there is a river or lake nearby. Sukhonos are excellent swimmers and divers. Sensing danger, they completely submerge themselves in the water and swim to a safe shelter.
The character and lifestyle of the dry nose
An amazing feature of the dry nose is its lack of fear of humans. This one is very inquisitive and can fly quite close and circle over an object that interests it, be it a person or a large wild animal.
Curiosity and gullibility played a cruel joke on dry-nosed animals - they were exterminated more than other anseriformes, since hunting them is not difficult.
In the photo there is a male swan goose
Sukhonos are excellent swimmers and divers. During the molting period, young animals lose the ability to fly, so they stay in close proximity to a reservoir or on the water.
Sensing danger, they plunge almost completely into the water, leaving only part of their head on the surface, and swim until they reach a safe shelter. Perhaps it was for this feature that the dry nose goose got its Russian name. The English version is more euphonious - goose (swan goose).
Except during the breeding season, suknosov live in small groups, on average 25-40 individuals. For autumn migrations, birds gather in larger flocks.
When preparing to spend the winter in warm regions, they make noise and worry, emitting a long, loud guffaw. The flock takes off several times, describes a couple of circles and lands again. In flight, geese form a wedge.
With this formation, it is most difficult for the leader; the rest of the birds fly on the waves from the flapping of those flying in front. When the leader's strength is running out, he moves to the back of the pack, and another takes his place.
It turns out that the birds line up at an angle is not accidental; this collective nature of movement allows them to cover a distance twice as large as a solitary bird.
Sukhnos food
The diet of the dry moth consists of grain crops, algae, grasses (mainly sedges), berries, as well as worms, beetles, and caterpillars. For adequate nutrition, geese need access to open coastal areas, densely covered with short grass, where they graze, like livestock.
Sukhonos are easily tamed and bred in captivity, in zoos and nurseries. They became the ancestors of Chinese domestic geese. In addition to the above, dry-nosed animals living near humans add feed, lettuce, cabbage, and alfalfa to their basic diet.
Reproduction and lifespan of the dry nose
Sukhonos choose a mate during the flight from wintering or immediately after arrival. Dry-nose nests are built in tall reed thickets in wetlands near water. For these purposes, the female digs a small depression in the ground. For construction, dry grass, stems of semi-aquatic plants, feathers and fluff are used.
The female lays eggs in early May; the clutch usually contains 5-8 white eggs with an average weight of about 14 g. During the incubation period, which lasts 28-30 days, the mother goose does not leave the nest, but the male remains near the nest all the time. There have been cases when a male swan-nose, when in danger, imitated the inability to take off, thereby leading the enemy far from the nesting site.
In the photo there is a dry-nosed gosling
The new generation hatches in about a month. Often several broods gather in a small flock, a kind of kindergarten accompanied by several adult birds. Sufferers reach sexual maturity in 2-3 years. Life expectancy in wild environment The lifespan is 10-15 years; in the zoo, sukunos live up to 25.
Protection of the sukhonos
Places, where does the dry nose live?, every year there is less and less. Territories suitable for their nesting are plowed up for fields, depriving them of what is most precious to them – a home. Another decisive factor in the decline in the population of these wild geese is poaching.
The swanbill is considered a rare bird and is listed as vulnerable by the International Redbill. According to the latest data, the total number of swan geese does not exceed 10 thousand individuals. No more than 200 pairs nest in our country Sukhonosov, in the Red Book In Russia this species is listed as endangered.
For protection of the sukhonos back in 1977, a reserve was created on Lake Udyl in the Khabarovsk Territory. A significant part of the nesting sites of suknosov in Russia, Mongolia and China is protected by the Dauria International Nature Reserve.
Sukhonos is a large goose, which is also called the Chinese goose. By external signs it resembles a bean goose, but only from afar.
Up close, the species of a bird is easily determined by its clearly visible dark stripe located along the top of the head and back of the neck.
Description of the sukhonos
The lower body of the bird is painted in light shades of yellow-brown, the forehead is decorated with a white stripe, the back and sides of the head are top part necks are reddish-brown. The sides of the body are covered with blackish-gray plumage with light transverse stripes. The undertail and sides of the neck are white, and the crop and chest are brownish-gray.
The base of the beak is edged with a narrow white stripe, which is absent in young geese.
The weight of an adult suknos is 2.8-4.5 kg, body length reaches 90 cm, wingspan 1.5-1.6 m.
Males have a characteristic swelling on the beak. Young birds are light in color, covered with brownish-gray feathers, light stripes missing on the sides. Legs light yellow.
Birds form noisy flocks and talk loudly as they fly, emitting a long, loud “go-go-oo-o”, like the sound of a trumpet.
Habitat and nesting of sukhenos
The dry-nosed goose occupies a not very extensive habitat. These birds were once widespread throughout southeastern Siberia, but currently only small areas remain where the wild goose nests. Sukhonos is found in the Primorsky region, Sakhalin, Transbaikalia, Southern Baikal region, Southeast and Southern Altai, and lives in the Amur tributary basin.
The bird is migratory, spring arrival occurs in April, geese fly in small flocks, and in September they migrate to south-eastern China, Japan, Korea, and are also found in small numbers in Uzbekistan during the winter. Perhaps the appearance of the name Chinese goose is associated with the autumn migrations of rare birds to China.
The Sukhonos is easy to distinguish from other geese by its heavy flight. Water is the native element for the Chinese goose; it swims and dives well. During molting, when the bird loses its flight feathers and cannot rise to the wing, it becomes accessible prey for predators. But in moments of danger, the dry fish immerses its body in the water so that only one head remains on the surface, or it completely goes under the water and swims to a safe place.
The bird's habitat is confined to the shores of fresh and salty reservoirs, overgrown with bushes, located on the plains and in the mountains. The nest is located in reed thickets in a dry area among swamps, or less often located on the ground on a remote island.
The sukhonos builds a nest from the stems of coastal plants, using its own feathers and blades of grass for the bedding. The clutch contains from 3 to 12, usually 5-8, white eggs. Incubation lasts about 30 days. Only the female heats the eggs, while her partner swims nearby. The chicks emerge from the brood type, quickly dry out and leave the nest with their parents.
Several broods form small groups. When a predator appears, they hide in thick grass if they are on land. By diving into the water, they escape from enemies in the pond. Adult birds distract the enemy from their offspring by pretending to be wounded and dragging one wing to lead the enemy away from the brood or simply trying to drive them away. In early June, young birds begin to moult. Adult geese molt one month later. The change of plumage lasts 30 days. In autumn, birds form large flocks that move in a caravan during migration.
The sukhonos is a herbivorous bird; it feeds on sedges, cereal seeds, shoots, pine needles, aquatic plants. Berries and insects add variety to the diet.
Dry-nosed goose and man
Dry-nosed goose - extremely rare bird. As a result of habitat reduction, the number of this species is decreasing. This is the rarest goose in our country. Several reasons can be cited why the bird lost its nesting sites: construction of hydroelectric power stations, regulation of river flows, development of floodplain lands, deterioration of conditions during wintering, anxiety due to human presence.
Since the number of dry-nosed snakes is too small, it is hardly possible to talk about hunting these birds. However, in some areas local residents They destroy nests, take the chicks and feed them for meat. Eggs placed under poultry hatch into chicks that easily tolerate captivity and get used to humans.