Brant Goose
Branta bernicla
Photo: Christian Doedt / CC BY-NC 4.0 / iNaturalist
The brant goose is a small goose with a black head and neck and a white neck patch, wintering on the coasts of northern Japan. Unlike other geese it favors the sea over fresh water and feeds on eelgrass and seaweeds. Its numbers are small, and it is protected as a Natural Monument, being seen on coasts of Hokkaido and Tohoku.
- Scientific name
- Branta bernicla
- Group
- Birds
- Prefectures
- Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita
- Japanese Red List (Ministry of the Environment)
- VulnerableMinistry of the Environment 5th Red List (2026)
- When to see
- October to April
- 日本語
- コクガン
- 简体中文
- 黑雁
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Sign inNatural Monuments related to the Brant Goose
Where to see the Brant Goose
Facilities whose official websites show this animal on display. Exhibits can change, so check each facility's latest information before you go.
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A winter visitor to the coasts of northern Honshu, staying in Aomori from around October to around April. Mutsu Bay's Ominato inlet is considered the largest wintering site in Japan.
Exhibit sourceMap
Designated as a species without a fixed area. Markers show related prefectures.
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Frequently asked questions
The Brant Goose is designated as a species without a fixed area and lives in places such as Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita.
You can see the Brant Goose at Tama Zoological Park, among others (confirmed on each facility's official website on 2026-10-15).
The Brant Goose is mainly seen in October to April. A winter visitor to the coasts of northern Honshu, staying in Aomori from around October to around April. Mutsu Bay's Ominato inlet is considered the largest wintering site in Japan.
The Brant Goose is listed as "Vulnerable" in the Ministry of the Environment 5th Red List (2026) (listed as コクガン).
Animals related to the Brant Goose
Animals in the same group or designated in the same area.
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