Bird of the Month: Black Spur-Winged Goose
WWT Martin Mere is introducing a brand new series, Bird of the Month!

Each month, we’ll be shining a spotlight on one of our fascinating feathered residents, offering the chance to learn more about the incredible diversity of birdlife here at the centre.
For the month of July, we are introducing our Black Spur-Winged Geese!
Our resident Black Spur-Winged Geese are two sisters, hatched on 10th September 2016. One of their favourite snacks fed by our team is lettuce!
Native to Southern Africa, Spur-Winged Geese are the largest species of African waterfowl. In the wild, these birds inhabit wetlands, floodplains, and grassy areas near rivers or lakes.
One of the most fascinating features of wild Spur-Winged Geese is their ability to accumulate toxins from eating blister beetles, which contain a poisonous chemical called cantharidin. As a result, they can be toxic to predators if consumed.
As their name suggests, these geese also possess sharp spurs on the edge of their wings which they use for defence.
Want to get a closer look?
Visitors to WWT Martin Mere can see these birds up close by heading near our Chilean Flamingos. WWT Members enter free, but non-members can enjoy 10% off admission tickets when prebooking online.