The cotton pygmy goose (Nettapus coromandelianus) belongs to the family Anatidae.
The cotton pygmy goose is distributed in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, southeast Asia and Australia. There are two recognized subspecies.
The subspecies, N. c. coromandelianus occurs in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, southeast Asia and New Guinea. The subspecies, N. c. albipennis occurs in Australia.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these goose species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".
The cotton pygmy goose (N. c. coromandelianus) is a small bird. The males measure 30 to 40 cm in length and weigh 250 to 300 grams. The female birds weigh 180 to 280 grams.
The subspecies N. c. albipennis are slightly larger birds. The plumage is predominantly white. Breeding males have a glossy blackish green crown, with white head, neck, and underparts. They have characteristic black collar and white wing-bar.
These goose species inhabit still freshwater lakes, lagoons, rain-filled ditches, inundated paddy fields, village tanks and irrigation tanks. They feed on seeds, grasses, aquatic plants, water lilies, insects and crustaceans.
These goose species breed during the rainy season. They nest on tree hollows near water. They lay six to ten eggs.
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| Indian birds - Cotton pygmy-goose - Nettapus coromandelianus |
| Biological classification of Nettapus coromandelianus | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Nettapus |
| Species: | N. coromandelianus |
| Binomial name: | Nettapus coromandelianus |
| Distribution: | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, southeast Asia and Australia; |
| Feeding habits: | seeds, water lilies, insects, crustaceans; |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
Image source: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cotton_Pygmy_Goose_RWD14.jpg
Author: Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Cotton pygmy-goose - Nettapus coromandelianus.