Bird · GBIF taxon 5232446
Brant
Branta berniclaAlso known as Brent Goose, Black Brant, Atlantic Brant
Brant are small, dark sea geese that undertake extraordinary long-distance migrations between high-Arctic nesting grounds and temperate coastal estuaries. They depend heavily on intertidal eelgrass and sea lettuce, grazing in tight flocks synchronized with the rise and fall of the tide. Unlike land-dwelling geese, they rarely walk on dry ground or venture far from salt water.
CoastalMigratoryWaterfowl
1 / 7—observations
—countries
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Eelgrass
- Sea Lettuce
- Green Algae
Predators
- Arctic Fox
- Glaucous Gull
- Snowy Owl
ThreatsEelgrass decline, coastal development, and climate change in Arctic breeding grounds
HabitatsCoastal estuaries, intertidal mudflats, and Arctic tundra
Life span15–28 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAnatidae
- SpeciesBranta bernicla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Timing: Scan coastal bays and estuaries during fall and winter when large flocks arrive from northern breeding sites.
- Listening: Listen for their low, soft, guttural chattering that sounds like a rolling 'rrot-rrot' across the water.
- Safe Distance: Use a spotting scope along shorelines to avoid disturbing flocks while they graze on exposed mudflats.
Frequent Companion 
Frequent Companion (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by
Close Relative Rror / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-saClose Relative 
Close Relative (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by
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