A small dark goose that migrates between the Arctic and coastal areas, commonly seen in North America.
From Old English or Scandinavian origins, possibly related to 'burn' (dark color) or borrowed from Norse languages. The word has been used for this specific waterfowl species since at least the 1500s.
Brant geese are extraordinary navigators—they fly thousands of miles using the Earth's magnetic field and landmarks, and the word 'brant' itself is ancient, showing that humans have been watching and naming these birds since before we had GPS or compasses.
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