Brant Goose

Overview

The brant, or brent goose (Branta bernicla), is a small goose that winters along temperate-zone sea-coasts and breeds on the high-Arctic tundra. It is currently classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Measures 55–66 cm in length and possesses a short, stubby bill.
• Features a pure white under-tail and a black, very short tail, the shortest of any goose.
• Dark-bellied and pale-bellied forms have black heads and necks with a small white patch on either side, while the black form displays a prominent white flank patch and a near-complete white neck collar.

Habitat

In winter, the brant has historically inhabited tidal estuaries but has recently expanded to use agricultural land inland, feeding on grass and winter-sown cereals. During the breeding season, it occupies low-lying wet coastal tundra, placing its bowl-shaped nest in an elevated location, often near a small pond.

Diet

Almost exclusively herbivorous, the brant feeds on salt marsh plants, green algae, and eelgrass during the non-breeding season. During breeding, it consumes graminoids, forbs, and mosses, and some populations have adapted to include sea lettuce in their diet following eelgrass blights.

Did you know?

In County Kerry in Ireland, the brant was once considered a fish by Catholics, allowing them to eat the bird on Fridays until relatively recently. This misconception arose from an ancient myth, persisting until the end of the 18th century, that the bird was the living incarnation of the barnacle.