Magpie Goose is a common species in northern Australia and Iriyan Jaya. It was also formerly abundant in southern Australia but was extirpated in most areas due to habitat destruction and persecution by man. There are currently several reintroduction programmes in Victoria and ACT to attempt to re-establish it in the southeast.
Traditionally classed as a member of the Anatidae, Magpie Goose is an evolutionary link between the Screamers and the Anatidae and is considered to be sufficiently distinct that it is now placed in its own monotypic family, the Anseranatidae.
The brown coloration on the breast of some of the birds shown here is due to staining from the muddy water and the natural colour of the breast feathers is white.
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