About this species
The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) is a medium-sized, pale grey goose with two distinctive dark horseshoe-shaped bars on the back of the white head. It breeds in colonies on high-altitude lakes and marshes across Central Asia — from Ladakh and the Tibetan Plateau to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and southern Siberia.
The species is celebrated as one of the highest-flying birds in the world. During its biannual migration it crosses the Himalayan mountain chain at altitudes exceeding 7,000 metres, a physiological feat made possible by specialised haemoglobin with high oxygen affinity and efficient cardiovascular adaptations.
Wintering birds concentrate on lowland wetlands, rivers and agricultural fields in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar. The global population is estimated at 52,000–60,000 individuals.
