a committee of the New York State Ornithological Association
Gallery
of New York Rarities Black
Brant or Gray-bellied Brant?
January 1999Text
and Photographs by Angus Wilson
Black Brant (Branta
bernicla nigricans) is a rare vagrant to eastern North America,
with the majority of records originating from three coastal states:
New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Prior to 1997, there
were only nine or ten records for New York State, averaging one
record every sixteen years! Despite this profound rarity, few
birders take the time to search for Black
Brant among the thousands of Atlantic
Brant (Branta bernicla
hrota) that winter along the eastern seaboard.
Three adult Black Brant (Branta
bernicla nigricans) spent the 1997-98 winter on the public
golf course at Riis Park in Queens. To our knowledge, this is
the first time three individuals have been seen together at one
location on the east coast of North America.
During the following winter (1998/99), another adult Black Brant
was discovered at the same location. This bird differs from those
of the previous winter in having a less extensive apron (barely
extended beyond the legs) and more obvious contrast between the
black neck sock and the dark breast. Could this be a Gray-bellied
Brant? Here are a series of photographs of this individual
taken on 31st January 1999. For another series of pictures, this
time taken at the end of March 1999, click
here.
Figure 1. Can
you spot the 'Black Brant'? Part of the wintering flock of Atlantic
Brant that feed on the grass verges and golf course in and around
Riis Park in Queens. The adult 'Black Brant' is just left of center.
Notice how the belly and lower flanks are much darker than on neighboring
adult Atlantic Brant, creating a striking white wedge between the
dark lower flanks (the edges of the belly patch) and the dark folded
wings.
Figure
2. An extremely
useful field mark for 'Black Brant' is the extension
of the dark belly. The 'Black Brant' is the bird on the
left. The dark feathering extends the length of the belly
to the base of the vent region. Thus when the bird faces
directly away, it can be easily identified by this dark
wedge extending to just between the legs. In typical
Pacific Black Brant this dark patch extends right into
the vent. In the Altantic Brant on the right, no dark
feathering is visible.
Figure 3. Dorsal
view of the 'Black Brant'. The two arms of the neck collar
almost close on the hindneck.
Figure 4. As a comparison
to the 'Black Brant' in Figure 3, here is a dorsal view of
an Atlantic Brant (B. hrota). There is a larger gap
between the two arms of the collar
.
Figure 5. A
nice portrait view. The bright sunshine striking the flanks
reveals some contrast between the jet black neck sock (neck
and upper breast) and the dark brown lower breast. The neck
collar is very prominent. The dark bases of the ventral flank
feather create a sharply defined edge to the white flank
patch. The wing coverts are all dark (lacking the white tips
of first-years) confirming that this is an adult bird.
Figure
2. An extremely
useful field mark for 'Black Brant' is the extension
of the dark belly. The 'Black Brant' is the bird on the
left. The dark feathering extends the length of the belly
to the base of the vent region. Thus when the bird faces
directly away, it can be easily identified by this dark
wedge extending to just between the legs. In typical
Pacific Black Brant this dark patch extends right into
the vent. In the Altantic Brant on the right, no dark
feathering is visible.
