Overview

Brant: Small goose, dark brown upperparts and brown-barred, pale gray underparts. Head is black; short black neck has partial white ring. Tail and vent are white. Western race, formerly known as the Black Brant, is darker. Heavy direct flight with strong wing beats. Flies in straight line formation.

Range and Habitat

Brant: Breeds in eastern Siberia and along the northern coast of Alaska and western Canada; Pacific subspecies spends winters along the west coast from British Columbia to Baja California. Preferred habitats include tundra and coastal islands in the Arctic during breeding, and salt marshes and estuaries during winter.

Breeding and Nesting

Brant: One to seven creamy white to buff eggs are laid in a large nest made of moss and down built on the tundra. Often nests in loose colonies. Incubation ranges from 22 to 26 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Brant: Feeds on grass, sedges, algae, moss, lichens, and invertebrates on breeding grounds. During winter in eastern and central North America, diet consists mainly of eelgrass found in tidal flats; usually feeds in flocks during low tide when vegetation is accessible; excess vegetation left floating is then eaten during high tide.

Vocalization

Brant: Call is a low, hoarse "cronk."

Similar Species

Brant: Canada Goose is larger, longer-necked, paler, and has conspicuous white cheek patch. Other dark geese have white face patches.