Updated
African pygmy goose Uganda is one of the most beautiful and sought-after of Uganda’s wetland birds, the male’s vivid green and white plumage stunning against the floating lilies of Uganda’s papyrus-fringed lakes. The African pygmy goose is Africa’s smallest waterfowl, a duck-sized bird about 30 cm long. Males have a white face, a green patch on the side of the neck and an orange breast; females are duller. It lives on quiet lakes, swamps and lagoons with water lilies, and in Uganda is seen at Lake Mburo, Mabamba, the Nile delta in Murchison Falls and swamps around Lake Victoria.
African Pygmy Goose Uganda: The Tiny Waterbird Facts and Guide
Habits
Pygmy geese feed mainly on the seeds of water lilies and other floating plants, plus some insects, picking them from the water surface. They are usually seen in pairs or small groups and spend much of their time sitting quietly among lily pads, where their colours provide surprisingly good camouflage. They nest in tree holes near water, sometimes in old nests of other birds.
A goose that is really a duck
Despite its name, the pygmy goose is a perching duck, related to the cotton pygmy goose of Asia and Australia. The name comes from its short, goose-like bill.
Where to see it
Boat trips on Lake Mburo and canoe trips at Mabamba give the best chances; scan lily-covered water carefully. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to Lake Mburo, Mabamba Bay birding, Uganda’s wetlands and Uganda birding.
Frequently asked questions
At Lake Mburo, Mabamba, the Murchison delta and Lake Victoria swamps.
No, it is a small perching duck.
Mainly water lily seeds and other aquatic plants.
About 30 cm long, Africa’s smallest waterfowl.
