What's that bird with the SUNGLASSES?!

It’s the Egyptian Goose! (Well... it's not really a goose, but a member of the shelduck family which are classified as being a cross between a goose and a duck.) If you think they have a slightly familiar look, you may have seen them in Egyptian artwork, as they were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. (Remember: it's EgyptIAN Goose, but Canada - NOT Canadian - Goose! Why? Beats me!!)

Egyptian Geese are abundant in the Nile Valley and south of the Sahara. They have also been introduced to other areas. Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany have self-sustaining feral populations. They arrived in the United States from Great Britain as exotics, to beautify estates of wealthy landowners. They promptly escaped, and by golly, here they are thriving in The Woodlands, Texas!!

This is a largely land-loving bird, happy to perch in trees or on buildings. It swims well, but when it flies, it looks more like a goose than a duck (hence the name). Egyptian geese typically eat seeds, leaves, grasses, and plant stems.

These handsome large geese have patches of chestnut-colored feathers around each eye, which give them a spectacled appearance. Some of them have gray-brown upper parts; others are red-brown. They have black tails and yellow eyes; their bills, legs and feet are pink. Sexes are alike, but the females are somewhat smaller. Though Egyptian geese are not very vocal, during times of stress or aggressive behavior it's easy to distinguish males and females by their sound. The males have a raspy hiss, while females produce a loud cackling sound. Although very quarrelsome and bad-tempered by nature, they form strong pair bonds and are excellent parents.

The next time you spot these birds near the lake, stop to take a look.
They're not only gorgeous, but they have an ancient and noble history!!