a committee of the New York State Ornithological Association
Gallery
of New York Rarities Black
Brant or Gray-bellied Brant?
March 1999Text
and Photographs by Angus Wilson
This very interesting goose spent the entire 1998/99
winter with Atlantic Brant on the short-grass lawns of Floyd Bennet
Field, Riis Park and Fort Tilden near New York City. I have already
posted a series of pictures of this bird taken at the end of January
1999. To see them click here. On
this page are a series of additional photographs taken on the 28th
March 1999, this time under more overcast conditions.
There is good reason to think this is not a typical 'Pacific Black
Brant' but rather a poorly defined form known as 'Gray-bellied
Brant'. I would be interested in any specific comments
or offers of comparative photographs of Black Brant from the west
coast.
Figure 1. With
Atlantic Brant. Notice the obvious contrast between the black neck
sock and the dark belly. The dark apron does not extend much beyond
the legs. Notice the limited collars on the two Atlantic Brant.
Figure 2. Head-on
view showing the underside of the neck.
Figure 3. Another
side view, showing the extent of the dark apron.
Figure 4. Detail of
the neck collar, which almost meets on the hindneck.
