Habitat
Seasonal and permanent wetlands near grasslands or arable land. When moulting areas with open shorelines, islands and sandbars, generally avoiding saline lakes and upland areas.
Voice
Predominantly plant matter such as seeds of grasses, sedges and aquatic plants, agricultural grain, fruit and tuberous crops. Also, occasionally small fish or insects.
Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis) [XC521346]
by Tony Archer from Aloe Canyons area, Swellendam Local Municipality, Overberg District Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa (flight call)
Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis) [XC442439]
by Tony Archer from Bizana, Transkei District, Eastern Cape, South Africa (flight call)
Subspecies
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
gambensis (Linnaeus, 1766) - Gambia to Ethiopia, south to Angola and Zambezi R.
niger Sclater, PL, 1877 - Southern Africa, from Namibia and Zimbabwe to Cape Province.