The Cape Barren Goose is endemic to Australia on islands off the south coast though some disperse to the nearby mainland outside the breeding season.

It is pale grey with a square black tail almost covered by droopy grey wing feathers. The bill is short, black and almost covered with a greeny-yellow cere. In adults the legs are red and the feet are black but immatures have grey-brown legs and are more spotted on the back and wings as shown by the bird to the back of photo 4.