Fun Brant Facts For Kids

Divya Raghav
Oct 22, 2022 By Divya Raghav
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Isobel Murphy
Fact-checked by Yashvee Patel
Read some brant facts about this small bird with a short neck and a small chubby bill.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.0 Min

A brant is a goose that belongs to the genus Branta. This water goose is usually found in different regions of the Arctic and North America, along the west coast and the northeastern coast.

The preferred habitats of brant geese include bays, estuaries, oceans, lagoons, and coasts. These birds are usually found in flocks near estuaries, lagoons, and other habitats during winters.

A brant goose has a short neck with white neck markings and a small chubby bill. This bird also has some characteristic features like a black head, a white necklace, and a rich brown body. They also have quite a short tail.

A brant goose eats eelgrass, sedge, alkali grass, dupontia, saxifrage, pondweed, sea lettuce, hair grass, and more. During winter, they are seen foraging for seaweed in coastal estuaries. According to the IUCN, the conservation status of these North American birds is declared as Least Concern.

Here on our page, we have lots of interesting facts on the brand goose that everyone will enjoy. Let's have a look at these interesting facts, and if you do like these, then do read our grebe and harlequin duck facts too.

Brant Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a brant?

A brant is a small bird that belongs to one of the many species of geese found in the world. This water goose is usually found in different eastern regions of North America.

What class of animal does a brant belong to?

The class of animal that a brant belongs to is Aves (birds). It is one of the most famous species of water geese found in North America.

How many brants are there in the world?

Brant geese have a large range, breeding in Greenland, northern Canada, the Svalbard Archipelago, north Russia, and Alaska. They are found in close proximity to the coast and, brant geese are estimated to have a breeding population of about 575,000 birds.

Where does a brant live?

A brant goose (Branta bernicla) is typically found living in areas close to oceans and coasts. These Arctic North American birds can be found living in Europe and eastern Asia, but primarily they are found in Arctic North America. They are usually found in coastal tundra habitats, lowland and barren terrains, and on islands.

What is a brant's habitat?

The favorite habitats of brant geese include estuaries that rise and fall with the tides as well as oceans and coasts. These birds are usually found flocking together in flocks in bays, estuaries, and lagoons during winters. During winter, they are often seen foraging for seaweed in coastal estuaries.

Who do brants live with?

Brants are seen living with breeding flocks of their own species and family.

How long does a brant live?

The lifespan of brant geese is about 10 to 24 years.

How do they reproduce?

After mating with a male, a female goose lays about three to four eggs and then incubates them for a month. These geese make their nests on the ground.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN, the conservation status of these North American birds is declared as Least Concern currently. This means that they are currently free from the threats of becoming extinct or vulnerable. It is estimated that brant geese have a breeding population of about 570,000 individuals.

Brant Fun Facts

What do brants look like?

A brant goose is a bird with a short neck with white neck markings and a small chubby bill. It also has some characteristic features like a head that is black in color, a white necklace, and a rich brown body.

This species of brant birds have quite a short tail too. This bird is 22-26 in (55-66 cm) long and weighs about 1.9–4.9 lb (0.88–2.2 kg).

One of the favorite habitats of brant geese is estuaries that rise and fall with the tides, but they can also be found by oceans and coasts.

How cute are they?

These Canada geese are absolutely adorable. They sport a super cute white necklace that makes them stand out from summer to winter!

How do they communicate?

These water birds use calls and vocalizations in order to communicate. They make shrill sounds to provide a word of caution.

How big is a brant?

A black brant is a small goose that is about 22–26 in (55-66 cm) long and has a height of about 25-31 in (64-79 cm). A brant is said to be ten times bigger than a rat.

How fast can a brant fly?

Brant birds can fly with an average speed of about 61.5 mph (99 kph).

How much does a brant weigh?

This subspecies of geese weighs about 1.9–4.9 lb (0.88–2.2 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

Males and females do not have specific names. They are both called brant geese.

What would you call a baby brant?

A baby brant is called a gosling or a duckling.

What do they eat?

A brant (also known as brent ) goose feeds on mare's tail, eelgrass, sedge, alkali grass, dupontia, saxifrage, pondweed, sea lettuce, and hair grass.

Are they dangerous?

They are not dangerous; they are just as harmless as they look.

Would they make a good pet?

They are not suitable pets as humans cannot provide them with the atmosphere that they prefer to live in. Their behavior is also very different from that of domestic geese, as these are wild geese.

Did you know...

The brant goose is also found living in western Europe, and here it is more often called a brent goose.

This species of brant birds are said to have the shortest tails of any species of goose.

During winter, brant geese are seen foraging for seaweed in coastal estuaries.

You can cook and consume these geese in multiple ways. Some people like to brant pastrami and pile it onto a sandwich. Brant meat tastes very rich in flavor. Serve it with mustard and marmalade, and many would say that you've got yourself the perfect sandwich!

What does the brant bird sound like?

This black brant bird makes a thick 'crrrronnk' sound when in its flock. They also make sharper 'cruk' calls in order to caution their pals if danger is imminent.

What are the differences between a male and female brant goose?

Female brant geese have a slimmer and shorter neck than males, but the male's crown is bigger and broader in size.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds, including the laughing gull or chum salmon.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our brant coloring pages.

Brant Facts

What Did They Prey On?

Mare's tail, eelgrass, sedge, alkali grass, saxifrage, pondweed, sea lettuce, and hair grass

What Type of Animal were they?

Herbivores

Average Litter Size?

3-5

How Much Did They Weigh?

9–4.9 lb (0.88-2.2 kg)

What habitat Do they Live In?

coastal tundra, barren lowland terrain, and islands

Where Do They Live?

the arctic, north america, and eurasia

How Long Were They?

22-26 in (55-66 cm)

How Tall Were They?

25-31 in (64-79 cm)

Class

Aves

Genus

Branta

Family

Anatidae

Scientific Name

Branta bernicla

What Do They Look Like?

Gray, white and brown

Skin Type

Feathers

What Are Their Main Threats?

raccoons, skunks, foxes, crows, and snakes

What is their Conservation Status?

Least Concern
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Sources

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brant/overview

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/brant

http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/brant_k6.html

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brant/id

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/joseph-brant

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Brant

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Written by Divya Raghav

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

Divya Raghav picture

Divya RaghavBachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

With a diverse range of experience in finance, administration, and operations, Divya is a diligent worker known for her attention to detail. Born and raised in Bangalore, she completed her Bachelor's in Commerce from Christ University and is now pursuing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore. Along with her professional pursuits, Divya has a passion for baking, dancing, and writing content. She is also an avid animal lover who dedicates her time to volunteering for animal welfare causes.

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Fact-checked by Yashvee Patel

Bachelor of Business Management

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Yashvee PatelBachelor of Business Management

Yashvee has won awards for both her writing and badminton skills. She holds a business administration honors degree and has previously interned with social media clients and worked on content for an international student festival. Yashvee has excelled in academic competitions, ranking in the top 100 in the Unified International English Olympiad and placing second in an essay-writing competition. Additionally, she has won the inter-school singles badminton title for two consecutive years.

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