Common name: Bar-headed Goose
Scientific name: Anser indicus
Family: Anatidae

Size:
Body length: 68–78 cm
Wingspan: approximately 140–160 cm
Weight: around 2–3 kg

Identification:
A distinctive pale grey goose with a white head crossed by two black horizontal bars, a dark grey hindneck, and yellow-orange bill and legs. In flight, it appears very pale overall, with darker outer flight feathers. The combination of the white head and paired black bars makes adults unmistakable.

Habitat:
Naturally associated with high-altitude lakes, wetlands, river valleys, marshes, grasslands, and agricultural areas across Central and South Asia. During migration and winter it frequently uses lowland freshwater wetlands, reservoirs, cultivated fields, and open grasslands.

Status in the UAE:
Introduced / escapee rather than a naturally occurring UAE bird. The official Emirates Bird Records Committee checklist places the Bar-headed Goose in Category E, which covers species recorded as introductions or escapes from captivity whose UAE populations are not considered self-sustaining. Category E species are not included in the official UAE bird list.

Diet:
Primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses, sedges, shoots, roots, seeds, grains, and other plant material. It may forage extensively in agricultural fields.

Behavior:
Highly social and commonly forms flocks. It is famous for its long-distance migrations across some of the world's highest mountain landscapes, including the Himalayan region. On water it behaves like other grazing geese, while on land it spends considerable time feeding on grasses and crops.

Conservation Status:
Least Concern (LC) globally.