Egyptian Goose

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Egyptian Goose, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(IX)

This non-native species originally established a self-sustaining population in Nofolk, but has increased both its range and its population over the last 50 years. A second core population has been established around Greater London with scattered records elsewhere in the south and east (see Atlas maps), and it is now sufficiently widespread that the short-term trend can be measured by BBS, with the ten-year trend graph confirming the rapid increase in numbers. Expanding populations of geese, including non-native Canada Geese, are creating a number of economic, social and environmental challenges and, increasingly, adaptive policies are required to manage invasive goose populations in order to minimise and mitigate economic and environmental impacts (e.g. Reyns et al. 2018).

UK winter population

+550% increase (1996/97–2021/22)

The distribution maps show that Egyptian Geese are now found in two main areas: East Anglia and an area centred on Greater London extending into parts of neighbouring counties. There is a suggestion that the East Midlands may develop into a third stronghold area, with a wide scattering of records there in both seasons. Away from these key areas there are isolated records as far north as Shetland, west Wales, southwest England and Ireland, with most of these records in winter.

The reason for the expansion over the last 20 years is unknown, though is probably fuelled by an increasing population in East Anglia leading to wider dispersal.

Egyptian Geese can be seen throughout the year in parts of southern and eastern England.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing

15 years 1 months 4 days (set in 2017)

Ring size	K or J*
Field Codes	2-letter: EG | 5-letter code: EGYGO | Euring: 1700

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

There is little good evidence available regarding the drivers of the breeding population increase in this species in the UK. However, the growth matches that of both Canada Goose and Greylag Goose and it is likely that the initial rapid increases following introduction was driven by similar factors. Factors behind its success in the Netherlands may have included the climate, the wide availability of suitable good quality grassland habitat and the fact that it has few natural enemies there (Gyimesi & Lensink 2010).