Atlantic Brant

Atlantic Brant (Branta bernicula hrota) is one of 2 North American brant subspecies. There are 3 subspecies worldwide.  All brant subspecies breed in the high-Arctic tundra and overwinter in temperate-zone estuarine habitats. Atlantic Brant are the “pale-bellied” subspecies. Their small head and short neck are black. The white necklace on its neck is coarsely patterned, not nearly as distinctly defined as on its black brant cousin. Body plumage is dark brown-gray, contrasting markedly with significantly paler flanks and belly.  Brant movements are usually tidal influence dependent. Loafing and feeding areas, and areas utilized for grit or drink water at low tides, are good places to hunt. Brant decoy readily. Especially for the savvy North American waterfowl species collector, they are a pleasure to hunt, and hunting brant on the Atlantic side can be easily combined for hunting other duck and goose species. New England, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey are prime brant wintering ground hunting areas.