noun
swan goose; Chinese goose
A large goose species native to East Asia; the name refers to Anser cygnoides.
サカツラガンは渡り鳥で、日本には冬に飛来する。
The swan goose is a migratory bird that comes to Japan in winter.
Katakana spelling is standard for this bird name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly encountered in specialized or older texts.
The name likely derives from 酒面 (sakatsura, 'drinking face') and 雁 (gan, 'wild goose'), possibly referring to a facial marking or behavior, but the exact origin is uncertain.