BLACK BRANT 107 



Very similar to American Brant but separated by its dark breast as well as 

 by features (a) and (b). Distinguished from Barnacle Goose by white head and 

 breast of that species. 



JUVENILES. Closely resemble adult, the best distinguishing plumage character 

 being the wing-coverts (Plate No. 3). Immature birds are similar to immature 

 American Brants, but are distinguished by the darker breast and sides. See "Descrip- 

 tions." 



FIELD MARKS 



(A maritime species of the Pacific coast). 



ON THE WATER. A very small, blackish-ap- 

 pearing goose with some white on the sides and 

 flanks; slightly larger than a Mallard. It sits buoy- 

 antly on the water with head gracefully poised and 

 tail uplifted, showing the white of the under tail- 

 coverts, and exhibits great beauty of movement. 

 Usually found in small companies. The white col- 

 lar is noticeable but not conspicuous unless close at 

 hand. Very similar to American Brant of the At- 

 lantic coast, and on the water shows almost as much 

 white of sides and hindquarters. 



IN FLIGHT. The entire body appears very dark, 

 relieved by the white under tail-coverts and white 

 V over the tail formed by white upper tailcoverts. 

 The neck is short, and the wings long and pointed. 

 These geese usually move in small flocks in single 

 line, with frequent changes of elevation. The flight 

 is fast, with short, energetic, rapid wing beats, and 

 is usually close to the water. 



VOICE. A low guttural, gr-r-r-r-r, gr-r-r-r-r uttered 

 when in flight or at rest; a mellow cronk, cronk, 

 cronk; a guttural wah-ook. 



LIFE STORY 



The Black Brant is a strictly maritime species of the Pacific coast. 

 In appearance, behaviour, and food habits it closely resembles the Ameri- 

 can Brant of the Atlantic coast. It is abundant on the west coast of 

 North America but on the eastern seaboard it is found as a straggler 

 only; it is strange, therefore, that it was first described by George N. 

 Lawrence (1846), from a specimen taken at Egg Harbour, New Jersey. 

 (A parallel instance is that of the Cinnamon Teal, another strictly west- 

 coast species, which was first recorded in 1849, in Louisiana.) This Brant 

 breeds on the Arctic coasts of western America and eastern Siberia and 

 migrates in the autumn down both coasts of the Pacific to California and 

 Japan. On its winter grounds its favourite food is eelgrass (Zostera 

 Marina), and when it is feeding on that plant its flesh is fit for the 

 epicure. 



