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Brant
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| Branta bernicla | |
An abundant small goose of the ocean shores, the Brant breeds in the high Arctic tundra and winters along both coasts. The Brant along the Atlantic have light gray bellies, while those off the Pacific Coast have black bellies and were at one time considered a separate species.
Interesting Information
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A group of geese has many collective nouns, including a "blizzard", "chevron", "knot", "plump", and "string" of geese.
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The Brant is also known as the Brent Goose. The spelling "Brant" is the original one, with "Brent" being a later folk-etymological idea that it was derived from a classical Greek water bird name brenthos. It actually came from the guttural call note of the species.
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They have the shortest tail of any goose.
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They possess a highly developed salt gland that allows them to drink salt water.
Description
Adult Description
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Medium to small goose.
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Black head, neck, and chest.
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White, partly broken collar.
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Length Range: 66-71 cm (26-28 in)
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Weight: 1400 g (49.3 oz)
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Size: Large (16 - 32 in)
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Color Primary: White, Black, Gray
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Underparts: Gray
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Upperparts: Gray and white.
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Back Pattern: Solid
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Belly Pattern: Solid
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Breast Pattern: Solid
Sex Differences
Sexes similar.
Immature
Similar to adult, but without white collar and with white scaling on back.
Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley
© 2003 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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Habitat |
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Predominantly coastal, inhabiting estuaries, tidal mudlflats, sandy shores, coastal saltmarshes (especially in the spring) and shallow muddy bays |
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Behavior |
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Gleans grain from fields, grazes on grass, forages in shallow water by tipping-up. |
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Food |
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Grasses, algae, mosses, other plants. Also eats marine invertebrates |
Taxonomy
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | Anserinae |
| Genus: | Branta |
| Species: | Branta bernicla |
| Subspecies: | Branta bernicla bernicla |
| Branta bernicla hrota | |
| Branta bernicla nigricans |
Similar Species |
Canada Goose has large white cheek patch and pale or brown breast. |
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Bird Sound |
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A soft, throaty rolling "cr-r-r-rk." |
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Eggs look like this |
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Photo taken from: ARCTOS Collaborative Collection Management Solution |
Videos
Brant
Up close and personal
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Sources Used To Construct This Page |
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Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA. Reed, A., D. H. Ward, D. V. Derksen, and J. S. Sedinger. 1998. Brant (Branta bernicla). In The Birds of North America, No. 337 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. |
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| All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use. | ||||
