Brant
Branta bernicla
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusBranta (Black Geese)
- SpeciesBranta bernicla (Brant)
About the Brant
The brant or brent goose (Branta bernicla) is a small goose in the genus Branta. There are three subspecies, all of which winter along temperate-zone sea-coasts and breed on the high-Arctic tundra. The Brent oilfield was named after the species.
The brant was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Anas bernicla. Linnaeus specified the type locality as Europe but in 1761 restricted it to Sweden. The brant is now one of six species placed in the genus Branta that was introduced in 1769 by the Austrian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli. The genus name Branta is a Latinised form of Old Norse brandgás, "burnt (black) goose". The specific epithet bernicla is Medieval Latin for barnacle.
The brant and the similar barnacle goose were previously considered to be the same species and believed to be the same creature as the barnacle. That myth can be dated back to at least the 12th century. Gerald of Wales claimed to have seen these birds hanging down from pieces of timber, William Turner accepted the theory, and John Gerard claimed to have seen the birds emerging from their shells... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Brant in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Cackling Goose
Branta hutchinsii
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
American White-winged Scoter
Melanitta deglandi
Taiga Bean Goose
Anser fabalis
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 8 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 9 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 11 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 12 | Thingvellir National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 13 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | Nikko National Park | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 15 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 16 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Brant in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Brant sighting in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, based on 103 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Brant in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve?
May has the highest sighting rate for Brant in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in our monthly data.