Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

The Spur-winged Goose is the world's largest goose and comes from sub-Saharan Africa. It has 2cm bony spurs on its wings for defending territory and fighting. Shown here is a young male Black Spur-winged Goose, the sub-species from southern Africa with little white on its chest and side and less white on its belly.

The Black Spur-winged Goose also has little black plumage, being largely dark brown and metallic dark green. The beak is closer to a swan's than to a typical goose beak. The male has more red/blue on its face than the female and has a raised bump at the base of the upper beak.