General Description: Brants (Branta bernicla) of western North America usually are dark-colored geese with a white neckband. They also have a bit of black-and-white mottling on the sides. Apparently juvenile or sickly birds can show a lot more white.

Taxonomy: Anseriformes, Anatidae, Anserinae

Favored Habitat: Coastal regions where they can find eelgrass to eat.

Where to Find: Don't look for Brants around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them along the eastern and western coasts of North America.

Comments: An injured Brant showed up at Corn Creek in 2009. We were quite excited to see it, but I suspect it was a pet that was dumped in the wildlife refuge after its wing was injured.