Brant

Single Brant at Carleton Park 

Brant

On a trip home from Fredericton South I took a detour to check on the birds at Carleton Park.  That was a good decision because there was a special bird there feeding on the grass above the water and walkway, a lone Brant.  That was a surprise because we don't often get Brant in Fredericton.  Occasionally there will be one or two who put down on their migration north.  This one clearly had dropped out of the flock to rest or feed.  Exhaustion or hunger probably forced it to leave the flock.

Brant (Branta bernicla) are a member of the Anatidae family (ducks, geese and swans).  This is a large family with many members worldwide.  The Branta species represents 4 species in North America; Cackling Goose, Canada Goose, Brant, and Barnacle Goose.  Brant, Cackling Goose and Barnacle Goose are about the same size, 64 cm/ 25 inches long and the Canada Goose is much larger at 114 cm/45 inches.

Brant with Ring-billed Gull

The Brant is a relatively small marine goose that appears stocky, short-necked and short-billed.  Its head, neck and breast are black.  The upper parts are brown.  The black tail is contrasted by the white rump and vent.  The underparts are pale (varies with the race) and the sides are light gray.  There is 

a small partial whitish collar which shows a fish scale pattern.  See the top photo where this shows clearly.

Judging by size, the only other geese you would have to distinguish the Brant from are the Cackling Goose and the Barnacle Goose.  The Cackling Goose has a long neck and both these species have white on the head.  The Cackling has a white cheek patch and the Barnacle Goose has a white face and forehead.  The Brant has a completely black head.

There are four subspecies of Brant.  In our area we have the 'Pale-bellied Brant'.  There are also the 'Dark-bellied Brant' of the central and western Russian Arctic and wintering in western Europe; the 'Gray-bellied Brant' of the western High Arctic; and the 'Black Brant' of eastern Russia through the Western High Arctic.  The Pale-bellied Brant breeds in the eastern Arctic of North America, Greenland, and Svalbard and winters along the Atlantic coast of the US, England and Ireland.  The subspecies differ mainly in belly and flank colour.  This is a truly holarctic species!

Brant

The Atlantic Brant (Pale-bellied Brant) breeds in Northwest Territories, stages in James Bay on their way south, and then flies nonstop to coastal New Jersey and New York.  After wintering there they move north in April flying two different routes.  Some use the coastal route to the St. Lawrence River estuary  and on to James Bay and the others fly overland to Lake Ontario and then up the Ottawa River to James Bay.  There the whole population stages.  They leave James Bay in early June and fly to the Foxe Basin, NT.  Historically more birds used the Atlantic route with important staging areas in the Maritime Provinces.  Some have moved somewhat westward in recent years.  For flight routes and distribution of the other 3 subspecies, see in-depth bird books, e.g., 'National Geographic Complete Birds of North America'.  The Atlantic Brant population has fluctuated but is now stable.

Brant in Staging Area Along Bay of Fundy

The flight of Brant is fast and agile.  They fly in scattered 'U' formations or lines.  In flight they sing a constant chorus of a low, gargling sound or sometimes a 'cut-cut' sound.  They nest on coastal tundra close to salt water.  The male brings the nesting material (moss) to the female who makes the nest on the ground. She lays 1 to 7 creamy white eggs which she incubates for 22 to 26 days.  Both genders  care for the young.  They feed on grasses, sedges, algae, moss, lichens and invertebrates.  In winter they prefer eel grass which grows on tidal flats.

Brant are known as Brent Geese in the United Kingdom and Ringgas in Scandinavia.  The term, Brant, is the original name whereas Brent is a corruption originating from foklore derived from a classical Greek water bird named 'brenthos'.  Apparently the guttural call note of the goose is similar to that of the ancient water bird.

Another interesting feature of Brant, the sea goose, is its ability to mobilize salt from its system enabling it to drink sea water.  It has a well developed salt gland that desalinizes the system.  Brant are interesting geese which can be seen more easily here along the coast.  Maces Bay usually has flocks staging in April.  It is worth the drive to try to see these interesting geese.