Pale-bellied Brent Branta bernicla hrota
Jones Beach, New York State. 11 March 2007

Variously considered one of three forms of Brent Goose Branta bernicla [or four forms if the contentious Grey-bellied Brent is included] or a species in its own right, the Pale-bellied Brent - also known as the Atlantic Brant in the US - breeds in Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, Greenland and northeastern Canada, and winters in Denmark, northeast England, Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland and the Atlantic coast of the U.S. from Maine to Georgia.

 

 

 

 

Adult:

 

 

 

1st Winter:

 

Photographed in March, note the off-white upperwing covert tips of these 1st winter birds which produce the barred effect until moult in the second year. The neck patch, which looks very similar to a full adult’s, develops by the birds’ first winter around November/December, and the pale flanks which separate 1st winters from the dark flanked juveniles would have appeared around October.

 

 

All photos copyright Charlie Moores