The Ruddy-headed Goose occurs at the southern end of South America and on the Falkland Islands. The mainland population breeds in the south and winters in south-western Buenos Aires Province.
The upper head and neck are chestnut, with a white eye ring and a straight forehead. The greyish underside has fine black crossbars, and the legs are orange.
It feeds on tender native vegetation in grasslands and open areas. The mainland population migrates from southern breeding grounds to south-western Buenos Aires Province, while the Falkland Islands population is resident.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.